CSR Waste and food waste

Why is this a theme for Van Loon Group?

During the production of food, waste is generated, and materials are discarded, particularly packaging. Considering the finite nature of raw materials and resources, a more circular method of production is increasingly desired—one that minimises the creation of waste and food waste.

Scope

Waste generated within the Van Loon Group production sites and material lost in the company’s own production process.

Our policy

At Van Loon Group, we focus on minimising waste and food loss within our production processes. We do this by producing as efficiently as possible and maximising the value of all raw and auxiliary materials. For example, we use innovative packaging, or cooking or freezing of products to extend their shelf life.

Meat is a costly product. As such, our operations are geared - if only from an economic perspective - towards minimising losses. However, due to fluctuations in our sales patterns, there are times at which more end products are produced than can be sold. These products are donated to regional food banks.

In addition to minimising food waste, we also strive to reduce generation of non-recyclable waste in our production process - without compromising food safety, of course.

Person ultimately responsible for policy implementation

COO

Results

Residual waste in relation to total waste streams

Donations to food banks (kilos)

Executed and planned actions

Activities 2024

In recent years, there has been less focus on reducing or separating waste. That’s why we launched a new project in 2024 to put this back on the agenda. At the Son site, a waste scan was carried out to map the different waste streams and determine the potential savings. New targets have also been set for the coming years, and monitoring has been put in place.

Last year, we continued our partnership with the Dutch Food Banks (Voedselbanken Nederland). This was partly to help prevent food waste and partly because we see it as our social responsibility, as a food producer, to support the food bank and help people in need. In 2024, we produced 177,000 kilos specifically for the food bank. In total, we supplied nearly 400,000 kilos to Voedselbanken Nederland. This amounts to almost five million portions, based on a standard portion weight of 80 grams.

Production volume of meals at the Oude-Tonge site increased significantly over the past year. Limited accuracy in sales forecasting combined with a short shelf life and production—partly under positive release—regularly led to overproduction. To avoid wasting these meals, they were distributed among employees at the Best site and various food banks. In doing so, we were able to give some 17,000 meals a purpose after all.

Looking ahead to next year

In 2025, we will expand the waste scan to include multiple sites, starting with the Beilen and Best locations. By providing a responsible person at each site with insight into the waste streams, along with practical improvement tips, we aim to improve the separation of waste streams. This approach will help reduce the proportion of (non-recyclable) residual waste within our overall waste streams.

We apply the 5S principle and work together with our partner Remondis to optimise waste processing. In this way, we expect to not only improve our environmental performance but also achieve significant cost savings.

Furthermore, we will implement a new environmental management system in all companies this year, in accordance with the ISO 14001 standard. This will help us to better manage and reduce our environmental impact. Responsible management of waste streams is one of the components of this standard.