Sustainability at the Südzucker Sugar Division
As a leading food ingredient manufacturer, we are committed to contributing to a healthy, sustainable and enjoyable future.
Thanks to our agricultural roots, we are closely connected to our farmers and the origin of our beets. We want to create a transparent connection between farming and customers within the farm-to-fork process.
Sustainability is gaining importance in every aspect of life. Therefore, we consider it our responsibility to make it part of our DNA and drive it forward. Social and environmental sustainability form the pillars with which we align our activities.
Our Sustainability Impact Areas
As an integrated part of Südzucker Group, the Sugar Division has defined four impact areas that derive from the Group’s impact areas and has integrated them into our business. The Sugar Division has added “Fostering Biodiversity” as an additional impact area and has framed our mission accordingly:
- Build a transparent connection between beet farming and customers, consumers and employees
- Reduce our environmental footprint by taking care of local natural resources
- Ensure value creation for our stakeholders
To contribute to our mission, the four impact areas below are reflected in the chronological process from farm to fork.
SÜDZUCKER SUGAR DIVISION‘S IMPACT AREAS
Locally Sourced
Protect the Environment
Energy & Emissions
Conscious Consumption
Environmental dimension
When it comes to the environmental dimension, we focus primarily on sustainable sourcing, fostering biodiversity, CO₂ equivalent emissions reduction, and using water responsibly. A major emphasis of sustainable sourcing concerns farming in general and local beet growing, since customers and consumers now want to better understand sustainable agriculture. We aim to connect the customers´ and the farmers´ needs when adapting to a more vulnerable climate.
Reducing CO₂eq emissions across the value chain and taking care of the local environment is another major focus area within the environmental pillar. Our beet farmers have been growing crops in a sustainable fashion for decades. Nevertheless, they currently face numerous challenges, including fewer plant protection options, greater climate impacts on fields and rising production costs.
Südzucker therefore supports our farmers with:
- 200 agronomists that advise them on sustainable farming
- Our bisz advisory platform with dedicated tools such as a cultivation planner
- Our beet2go app for accessing analytical results from our beet laboratory
Sustainability Indices
We partner with accredited sustainability indices to scale our commitment. We are proud to announce that our beet sugar is sourced sustainably according to REDCert² in all four major beet-growing countries and for ecovadis, we have achieved the Silver level.
Our goals have been validated by SBTi.
Get in Touch
Would you like to learn more about our specific sustainability commitments, goals and KPIs? Stay tuned for more publications or contact us directly:
Geert Van Aelst, Head of Sustainability, Südzucker Sugar Division
Sustainability in Südzucker Group
Südzucker Group has firmly anchored social and environmental sustainability in our Group Strategy 2026 Plus. Thanks to our agricultural roots, we are closely connected to our farmers and the origin of our beets. We see ourselves as the central link between farmers and customers in the farm-to-fork process.
Südzucker Group's Eight Impact Areas
Südzucker Group has identified the eight impact areas, as can be seen on the left, that convey our commitment to sustainability.
How does Südzucker live Regenerative Agriculture?
Latest Download Material
The Sugar Beet a Sustainable All-Rounder
To us in the Sugar Division, a strong focus on sustainability is vital. For example, some beet-growing areas within the EU are located in water-stress areas. We are aware of our accountability and take measures to manage our water usage responsibly when processing sugar beets. The sugar beet itself plays an essential role in this: all the water required for cleaning and transporting the beets comes from the beet itself. After all, the sugar beet consists of 75% water, which results in approximately 1 million cubic metres per year in each factory. The sugar beet is indeed a true superhero – discover more about its superpowers.
