Responsibly managing the waste we produce

We work hard to manage the waste we produce in a responsible way. Our approach is based on reducing, reusing, recycling and recovering.

We reduce the amount we create as a by-product of our processes, we reuse where possible, we recycle in an effort to avoid disposal via landfill or incineration and where waste is incinerated, we recapture the energy.

Our ‘No Waste’ factory

We have set a waste management target to reach zero operational waste directed to landfill for all manufacturing sites by 2030¹. One of the ways we are getting closer to this is by working towards a circular economy model. In this model, durable goods are designed to be repaired rather than replaced, and biological materials are managed so they can be returned to the biosphere without contamination. It’s estimated that 90% of the raw materials used in manufacturing become waste before the product leaves the factory, and 80% of products made are thrown away within the first six months.

On target²

• During the course of 2022, the amount of waste sent for incineration with and without energy recovery and landfill per tonne of product increased by 7% compared to last year’s figure. 

• In total, we diverted 74% of all our waste from disposal in 2022. The amount of waste diverted from disposal per tonne of product has increased by 18% since 2020. The reduction of landfill is also a priority and 32 out of 78 of our sites are without landfill waste.

We believe that minimising waste is closely connected to responsible sourcing. By using raw materials in a mindful way and promoting sustainable working practices, we can cut down the amount of waste we produce and improve our environmental footprint.

Progress on waste 2020-2022

	Waste generated by tonnes	2020 ³ (restated)	2021 ³ (restated)	2022 4
	Hazardous waste	34,423	43,583	48,943
	Non-hazardous waste	71,362	81,079	80,975

1. Excluding one-time-only waste and waste sent to landfill only when other existing technical alternatives are not allowed due to regulatory requirements.

2. Latest targets progress.

3. These values include the figures coming from the acquisitions of Naturex, Vika, drom, Albert Vieille, Golden Frog and Ungerer sites as well as from restatements.

4. Assured 12-month rolling figures (Q4 2021 to Q3 2022) for values including the acquisitions of Naturex, Vika, drom, Albert Vieille, Golden Frog and Ungerer sites.

For more on our latest progress, read our 2022 Sustainability Report. 

Upcycling

As part of our efforts to reduce waste, we have also been exploring upcycling. Also known as creative re-use, upcycling is all about transforming waste materials into new items of better quality. Much more than a passing trend, it’s a vital way for all of us to make better use of the earth’s resources and reduce waste. Find out more about some of our upcycled innovations.