Boosting engagement with the Sustainable Development Goals
Our Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) strategy supports at least six of the SDGs, which are closely connected with our CSR focus areas of Corporate Governance, Energy and Environment, Products and Employees.
Fast tracking innovation
In 2018, we participated in a United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) pilot project called SDG Accelerator. The project aims to support companies boost their engagement in the business opportunities presented by the SDGs.
As a result, we have fast-tracked our development of a durable anti-fog coating for industrial food packaging, which keeps food products looking fresh and desirable at low temperatures. As consumers often choose the more appealing product, leaving those with foggy packaging on the supermarket shelf to deteriorate, our new and innovative solution helps to reduce food waste.
Claus Hviid Christensen, CEO of Palsgaard’s independent innovation arm, Nexus, comments:
“We are constantly testing ourselves and our product potential through innovation. I’m grateful for the opportunity to participate in the pilot project and for the hard work of our Research and Development team.”
Not only were we selected to participate in SDG Accelerator, we have also been supporting a number of other SDGs throughout the years. Here are just some of the ways we have done so.
Combatting climate change
SDG 13 urges the world to take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts. You may have heard that in 2018, we reached our goal of global CO2-neutral production two years ahead of schedule. Since achieving CO2-neutral status at our factory in Denmark back in 2015, we have worked hard to reach it in all of our production sites by exploring locally available renewable energy sources or credible carbon offsets.
Our contribution to SDG 13 doesn’t stop here though. We will continue our journey, exploring how we can further reduce our impact. For now, we are proud to say our products are made in CO2-neutral factories!
Health matters
Promoting good health and well-being in our workplace aligns with our value of responsibility, and we also understand that investing in our employees is always worth it. Our biennial employee satisfaction and motivation survey results show how we continually perform above the global average. While good health and well-being (SDG 3) is felt throughout our workforce, our products’ ability to reduce unhealthy fats and sugar in the global food supply also helps improve the health of people all over the world.
Caring for communities we operate in
We also support decent work and economic growth (SDG 8) via our subsidiaries throughout the world. In Mexico, Malaysia and China, for example, we have played a role in development and financial growth in local areas by increasing job opportunities, implementing our company policies and values, and paying government taxes.
Our responsible consumption and production activities (SDG 12) are displayed in our CO2-neutral production, getting the most out of our raw materials, process optimisation as well as waste sorting. There is an ongoing effort to implement such initiatives across all of our subsidiaries, no matter where in the world they are.
Collaborating to make a difference
SDG 17 focuses on partnerships to achieve the SDGs, and while we showcase this through our Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) membership, we also have a long-standing partnership with the Denmark branch of Plan International, a children and youth foundation.
The activities of Plan International span five countries in West Africa and focus on health and education, local economies and job opportunities. Additionally, the foundation benefits from an initiative at our headquarters in Denmark where monetary donations for taking surplus canteen food home are encouraged.
The activities of Plan International contribute to multiple SDGs:
