Palsgaard to showcase its carbon-neutral journey at FiE

Last year, Palsgaard tapped into growing consumer demand for sustainable food products, cutting net emissions from 12,029 tons in 2010 to zero in 2018.

In 2010, the company committed to becoming entirely carbon-neutral and embarked on a ten-year journey to eliminate its carbon footprint across all its global production sites.

According to Palsgaard CEO Jakob Thøisen, it not only achieved that goal two years ahead of schedule, but it is the only company in the emulsifier industry to have achieved this.

“Climate change is now attracting widespread attention and the research shows that both consumers and retailers are increasingly demanding sustainable products,” ​he said.

According to research published by the International Trade Centre and the European Commission, 98% of food retailers in France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain reported increased sales of sustainable products over the last five years.

In pursuit of neutrality

In 2015, Palsgaard’s largest site – in Denmark – was declared carbon-neutral after it reduced emissions by 16,000 tons. The company was also the first in the country to achieve CO₂​-neutrality at its Mexican plant. Its plants in Brazil, China and Malaysia are also CO₂​-neutral.

To achieve this, Palsgaard introduced heat recovery and insulation techniques; converted heavy fuel oil to biogas; and used renewable sources of energy such as wind and solar power. It also introduced its own straw-fired central heating systems in Denmark.

Palsgaard also claims to be the world’s only commercial source of fully sustainable emulsifiers based on RSPO SG-certified palm oil.