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Respecting nature

To develop the Group sustainably and to protect nature, we strive to respect the nature.

In addition to strict compliance with environmental regulations, we are mobilising and investing to:

– Reduce our footprint by optimising our resources (water, energy…) and by managing emissions (effluent, gas, waste),
– Prevent natural and technological risks,
– Promote biodiversity.

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Respecting nature

To develop the Group sustainably and to protect nature, we strive to respect the nature.

In addition to strict compliance with environmental regulations, we are mobilising and investing to:

– Reduce our footprint by optimising our resources (water, energy…) and by managing emissions (effluent, gas, waste),
– Prevent natural and technological risks,
– Promote biodiversity.

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Respecting nature

To develop the Group sustainably and to protect nature, we strive to respect the nature.

In addition to strict compliance with environmental regulations, we are mobilising and investing to:

– Reduce our footprint by optimising our resources (water, energy…) and by managing emissions (effluent, gas, waste),
– Prevent natural and technological risks,
– Promote biodiversity.

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What we have done in the past to respect the nature

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What we have done

In order to guarantee the integration of our industry in a preserved environment, we have been committed for 50 years to developing our activities in a way that respects nature. We develop our principle of producing locally to sell locally within our different activities across the regions. We invest in the best available technology to optimise the resources required for our activities and to control emissions (in 2022, almost 12 million Euros were invested to benefit the environment). We work to reclaim and recycle materials, and to take or support environmental initiatives (recyclable packaging, waste recycling information displays, tree planting, energy savings…). Group governance and coordination on-site are carried out by specialist environmental teams.

 

Reducing our environmental footprint

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Reducing our environmental

In a constantly-evolving environment and the context of increasingly rare resources, LDC wants to support and secure its development through the implementation of environmentally respectful practices.

The LDC Group’s Environment policy is based on 4 key elements:

– regulatory compliance on all levels with active monitoring,

– transparent, respectful dialogue with all stake holders,

– the sustainable management of resources with, on the one hand, the monitoring of consumption and, on the other hand, the implementation of optimisation plans,

– respect for nature by keeping sites clean, and by limiting emissions as much as possible.

The priority areas for action are:

– Training teams in environmental challenges and how to manage them,

– Water conservation in quantity and quality,

– Energy efficient management and reduction of Greenhouse Gases (GHGs),

– Maximum waste recovery,

– Prevention and management of the industrial risks associated with our plants or equipment,

– Active participation in improving biodiversity.

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Working to save water

Working to save water

Water is an increasingly rare resource, but one that is essential for the Group’s activities. Predominantly sourced from public water networks and secondly from private wells, water is used:

– For slaughtering, butchering and processing our products,

– For hygiene and cleaning equipment and premises with reinforced biosecurity requirements.

For a long time, the Group has been implementing an active policy for reducing water consumption by:

– Optimising processes (reduction in the use of low pressure, introduction of solenoid valves…),

– Using equipment that improves the mechanical efficacy of water (high pressure nozzles),

– Training staff in rational water use.

Activities at upstream plants and logistics centers generate very little aqueous emissions (water primarily used for domestic purposes and in steam form for upstream).

The effluents, produced after the use of water, benefit from different pre-treatment techniques and purifying treatments. We conduct a sustained investment policy in order to continuously improve the performance of our waste water treatment equipment, and to guarantee that treated water of impeccable quality is returned to the natural environment.

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Reducing our environmental

Many actions have been implemented to benefit Water:

– Collection at source to improve the quality at factory output by preventive means,

– Construction and optimisation of installations and pre-treatments,

– Operation of waste water treatment plants: the LDC Group owns 26 complete waste water treatment plants within the plants.

 

All aqueous emissions are treated in order to control their impact on aquatic environments. This process takes place either at waste water treatment plants within the plants, or after internal pre-treatment, by communal treatment facilities. In 2019 the Group owns 30 water treatment plants, managed by our internal staff or by a specialist service-provider. The Group is continuing to develop pre-treatment facilities or renovate waste water treatment plants to improve the quality of discharges and the capture of pollution at the source.

In 2022, the Group’s overall water consumption (in L/kg produced) will have fallen by 9% compared with 2018.

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Fighting climate change and optimising energy resources

Fighting climate change and optimising energy resources

Across our entire value chain, sources of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are linked:
– To upstream farming with the plant-based raw materials use for poultry feed. This represents 80% of group emissions (scope 3),
– To packaging (inputs and end-of-life included), transport and energy consumption (electricity, natural gas and propane predominantly) relating to production activities on our plants.

The order of importance of these sources varies depending on our activities. This data comes from GHG emissions assessments carried out within the Group for several years on representative activities (slaughtering and processed products), and from the public study Agribalyse.

 

To find out more, view out greenhouse gas emissions assessments:

GHG emissions assessments – New Poultry Company (SNV)

GHG emissions assessments – Marie Surgelés Company

GHG emissions assessments – Agis Company

GHG emissions assessments – Arrivé Company

GHG emissions assessments – Celvia Company

GHG emissions assessments – LDC Burgundy Company

GHG emissions assessments – LDC Sablé Company

GHG emissions assessments – La Toque Angevine Company

GHG emissions assessments – Marie Company

The Group benefits from essential assets:

– Our main activity is based on Poultry, a meat with low carbon impact, namely 2.14 kg CO2 eq/kg of live weight for an everyday chicken,

– Because of our geographical locations in farming areas, our activities do not generate considerable transport emissions,

– Our footprint is significantly reduced by our principle of producing locally to sell locally,

The Group takes action at several levels to reduce GES:

1. Optimise resources upstream and choose local:

– Our poultry feed recipes are optimised through nutritional content and presentation that is constantly adapted to the needs of the animals, thus limiting rejects and waste at our farmers’ sites,
– The preference for local raw materials, for poultry feed as well as for other raw materials for the poultry division and the convenience food division when the market allows.

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Reducing our environmental

2. Support our partner farmers via the upstream division in:

– The good management of the atmosphere within the poultry houses and the control of energy consumption (choice, adjustments and maintenance of equipment, development of low energy consumption farms, …),
– Consulting for energy transition projects (methanisation, biomass boilers, …),
– The correct management of effluents and waste. More than 150 composting plants have been developed by our farmers. Each year, campaigns for collecting empty packaging associated with farming activities are organised, in particular through the company ADIVALOR.

3. Taking action on transport and logistics:

– Optimisation of rounds and truck filling,
– Investing in “cleaner” vehicles,
– Eco-driving (training our drivers).

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Reducing our environmental

4. Continuously improve energy performance through an active approach undertaken by all Group plants:

– Energy management (specialist teams, energy audits carried out periodically…). The Group’s active energy policy enables it to gradually achieve energy savings and improve energy efficiency,
– Equipment maintenance and numerous innovative investments (energy recovery, centralised technical management, variable speed drives on motors, renewal of refrigeration plants using low-heat gas): in 2022, 54% of environmental investments have been devoted to improving the energy performance of our plants.

In 2020 the Group committed to reducing its energy consumption in kWh/t by 10% by 2025.

5. Energy production:

– In 2022, the quantity of renewable energy produced reached  1,3100 MWh,

– Our partner Les Fermiers de Loué, the only subsidiary with a positive electricity energy balance-sheet. With 11 wind turbines and 50,000 m² of photovoltaic panels installed on the farms, the Fermiers de Loué generate as much renewable energy as they consume, in the form of electricity for the production of eggs and poultry, from the selection of breeds to the consumer’s oven. Energy efficiency and sustainable use of resources make Loué the first food brand to be self-sufficient in electricity thanks to renewable energies.

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Recovery of organic materials and waste

Recovery of organic materials and waste

The Group’s activities generate various organic by-products or co-products such as products from poultry slaughtering, manufacturing scraps, etc. The Group has always taken action to:
– minimise losses on the production line by accurately measuring each ingredient,
– encourage maximum recovery of these materials in other suitable sectors (pet-food, energy recovery, use of feathers for the textile industry …). These sectors are internally or with partners. This approach ensures the recovery of 100% of organic materials generated through group activities.

The effluents, produced after the use of water, benefit from different pre-treatment techniques and purifying treatments. We conduct a sustained investment policy in order to continuously improve the performance of our waste water treatment equipment, and to guarantee impeccable quality water is returned to the natural environment.

To produce natural fertilizers from the effluents produced upstream by the farms, we raise awareness and accompany our partner farmers in the creation of treatment stations (composting of manure …).

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Reducing our environmental

“Dangerous” waste is present in only very small quantities on plants (about 1% of waste in 2021) and can be generated by activities that support production, such as maintenance. This includes, for example, used technical oils, neon tubes, etc. This type of waste is all taken back by specialist service providers to ensure that it is reprocessed via the appropriate channels.

In 2022, nearly 99% of the waste produced on the Group’s sites is “non-dangerous” waste. They are made up of final waste and recoverable materials such as paper, cardboard, wood, metals, plastics, etc. They are sorted in order to be reprocessed for reuse (wooden pallets) or recycling (paper, cardboard, metals, etc.). The rate of non-dangerous rate recycling in 2021 was 87,6%. The Group has set itself the objective of continuing to increase the recycling and recovery rate to achieve 10% more recycling by 2025. 

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Taking action for biodiversity

Taking action for biodiversity

The Group considers the definition of biodiversity to mean the diversity of life on Earth. It is assessed by considering the diversity of ecosystems, species and genes in space and time, as well as the interactions within and between these levels of organisation.

From its inception, the Group has been committed to the protection and diversity of species, with the high-quality farm poultry of Loué, and then, with its gradual establishment in all French production basins, to the red label and regional poultry, for example with poultry from the Landes area, high-quality poultry from the Ardèche (IGP) and Bresse AOC poultry.

Since 2014, LDC’s Upstream division has been encouraging its poultry producers to better integrate their poultry houses into the landscape through the planting of hedges along the edges of their sites. This initiative concerns nearly half of the farmers. Farmers are made aware of this program through presentations at meetings of farmers, during the “Génération Nature d’Eleveurs” training of new farmers run by the LDC Upstream division or during open days dedicated to this initiative.

To assess the contribution of hedgerows to biodiversity, the Group encourages its partner farmers to take part in participatory science protocols that measure the presence of pollinators. Wild bee nests were introduced in 2019 in collaboration with Observatoire Agricole de la Biodiversité on several farms.  

In addition, the introduction of hives on Les Fermiers de Loué plants is another initiative aimed at encouraging pollinators. The Group’s plants also take care to integrate their buildings into the landscape by landscaping the perimeter with trees or grassed areas. Some plants, such as the Huttepain Aliments plant, had hives installed in 2018.

LDC’s long-term partner, CAFEL (Les Fermiers de Loué) is a key player in tree planting. For the partner poultry farms of our upstream division, the most recent tree planting campaign ran from autumn 2018 to spring 2019 and resulted in the planting of 1,703 trees. New tree planting campaigns are planned for 2020 so that new farmers can benefit from these initiatives.  This action has been included in the new roadmap produced by the Environment Department and deployed in 2019. Actions that have been implemented across our sites are very diverse:

  • agroecological infrastructures; ponds, ditches, grassed bands, isolated trees … which help integrate our sites into the landscape and make maintenance easier,
  • service-provider awareness-raising actions for maintaining green areas in a manner that respects reproduction and nesting periods (pruning, grass cutting…),
  • Maintenance of green spaces through eco-grazing,
  • Installation of structures promoting the local wealth of biodiversity (insect hotels, hives, collective vegetable patches…),
  • Green roofs if the buildings allow it,
  • Promotion of biodiversity (becoming a diversity ambassador…).

– With our farmers, awareness of the methods most conducive to biodiversity (versatility of poultry houses to rear different species, organic farming, biological control, conservation agriculture, agroforestry, …)

– With our employees and consumers

In 2022, 39% of sites were already actively encouraging biodiversity. Our objective is to have 100% of sites involved in 2025.

Taking action on packaging to protect the environment

Taking action on packaging

The LDC Group is concerned about the environmental impact of packaging used for the sale of its products across all markets. Most of our products are fresh products, the organoleptic and health qualities of which must be preserved up until the last day.

The packaging of our products therefore plays a decisive role in consumer satisfaction and safety and is a key element in the practicality of our products. A multidisciplinary working committee at a Group level coordinates on this topic with public players (CITEO).

Our packaging can be made from plastic, cardboard and aluminium. We develop the eco-design of packaging, by reducing their weight at source and optimising their composition in order to improve their end-of-life. A plastic packaging eco-design guide created in 2019 has been shared with R&D, quality, marketing and industry teams. The notion of packaging design is incorporated into the life cycle of the product. Recycled materials are used in preference to others. We no longer purchase PVC films and we are working towards the progressive replacement of complex packaging with mono-material packaging. We are implementing a plan to reduce the use of packaging (less material, less weight, adjusted size), and incorporate recycled materials where possible (consolidation packaging).

To help our consumers recycle more effectively, we have displayed recycling guidelines on all Loué and Marie packaging, 97% of Le Gaulois packaging and 96% of Maître Coq packaging.

Our commitment at a Group level is for 100% of our rigid packaging to be eco-responsible by 2025.

Indicators and commitments
(score card)
Respecting the nature

Objective 1

Minimise our footprint

Indicator
2018
2022
2025

Change in water consumption rate (litres per kg produced)

3,42
-9%
-5%

Change in energy consumption rate (kWh/ton)

352
+2%
-10%

Change in organic materials and waste recycling rate

79%
-5%
+10%

Share of plants having conducted or pushed a biodiversity programme

NA*
39%
100%
*NA : Not Available
Objective 2

Act on our packaging

Indicator
2018
2022
2025

Share of recycled ecofriendly packaging

NA*
53%
100%
*NA : Not Available
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