Reducing raw materials (RMs) emissions is an enormous challenge. In 2022, BioMar consumed approximately 1.6 million tonnes of RMs, which are diverse, sourced globally, and purchased from hundreds of suppliers. Nevertheless, as part of BioMar’s climate masterplan, we have partnered with a wide range of suppliers to start the journey towards net-zero.
BioMar has partnered with dozens of suppliers, from soy producers to micro ingredient manufacturers, to work towards the shared goal of improved environmental performance. Not every RM producer has performed advanced life cycle assessments of their products – but we meet suppliers where they are in their sustainability journey. When needed, we educate, inform, and, in some cases, even perform the life cycle assessment (LCA) on the supplier’s behalf.
With a completed LCA, we can target hotspots for improvements. For example, with cultivated products, documenting zero land-use change and encouraging regenerative agricultural practices helps BioMar achieve two ambitions at once: climate action and 50% circular and/or restorative raw materials by 2030. At the processing level, scenario analysis allows us to quantify the climate benefits of switching from a diesel to an electric boiler for, e.g., drying.
Our workflow for engaging with suppliers includes the following:
Sustainability education
Primary data collection under NDAs
Full Life Cycle Assessments, LCIs, and MFAs
Hotspot analysis
Audits
Provision of recommendations for reducing environmental impacts
Value chain collaborations
Validation of existing LCAs to ensure sufficient data quality and representativeness
Climate action in action
Scope 1 & 2
In 2022, BioMar took many actions to decarbonise our electricity and reduce our factory level emissions.
The BioMar factory in Myre, Norway, deployed an electric boiler for producing steam. This replaced a natural gas boiler, reducing scope 1 emissions.
Our Danish factory in Brande switched to local district heating for heating their offices.
BioMar Costa Rica underwent an energy monitoring project and developed a system to ensure optimal energy consumption from their feed production process.
BioMar developed a standardised system for monitoring energy consumption at all units.
Scope 3
BioMar started working with insect meal suppliers at the inception of the industry. Initial studies revealed that high energy consumption and food-grade feedstock led to carbon footprints inconsistent with BioMar’s expectations.
BioMar has since participated in commercialising (up-scaling) plans for several top producers. Our collaboration with the insect meal industry has contributed to what we increasingly consider best- practice; high-tech industrial symbiosis, low-value by- product feedstock, improved genetics, and closed- loop manufacturing.
Recent LCA results from leading insect producers show drastic environmental footprint improvements compared to where we started.