Sustainability at Gemüsering

Sustainability

Gemüsering goes Zero

Pioneer in climate neutrality: Gemüsering Stuttgart is the first company in the "fresh vegetables and fruit" sector to commit to consistently pursuing the path to climate neutrality at its own site and along the supply chain.

The programme run by the Centre for Sustainable Business Management at Witten/Herdecke University (ZNU) highlights Gemüsering's pioneering position in the field of "sustainable business". Our goal is to continuously reduce emissions with scientific support from the ZNU; any emissions that cannot be avoided are offset through compensation programmes at company level.

Gemüsering

ZNU-certified

The ZNU standard for sustainable management allows Gemüsering to make an active and measurable contribution to sustainable changes in the economy and society step-by-step.

certified company in the fruit+veg sector

Gemüsering locations already certified by 2024

locations are planned to be certified by the end of 2023

Gemüsering locations planned by the end of 2026

Sustainable management

Goals and achievements

ENVIRONMENT

In 2020 and 2021, the flowering areas were first expanded to 20 hectares and finally to 27.6 hectares. As our flowering area offer is very popular with farms, we are increasing our target from 30 to 50 hectares of flowering areas by 2025. In 2023, the establishment of 49ha was promoted among the direct suppliers, and of a further 3.5ha of flowering areas in the Gemüsering group.

ENVIRONMENT

100% certified
In 2019, 100%* of products came from controlled and certified farms (*except for non-certifiable products such as wild garlic).

ENVIRONMENT

3,000 samples
Every year the Gemüsering group carries out over 3,000 internal plant protection product and microbiology samples.

ENVIROMENT

Regenerative vegetable growing: Since 2022, we have been working with growers to develop concepts for resilient and regenerative vegetable cultivation. By 2026, 30% of our direct German growers are to be involved in these concepts; by 2030, the target is 60%.

Organic farming contributes both to the careful use of farmland and to the promotion of various ecological and social aspects. We therefore want to increase the share of organic sales from 16% in 2022 to 20% by 2026 and to 25% by 2030. The conversion of 100 hectares of our own production areas by 2030 should also contribute to this.

SOCIAL

Home office
Expansion of the home office opportunities in the marketing, quality management and human resources departments, as well as for employees in other sectors.

SOCIAL

In addition to the internal work of the dual students, at least 2 external projects are supported each year. In 2022, two and in 2023 three projects were supported. Gemüsering Stuttgart is also a partner in numerous projects with more than 5 universities and research institutions in areas such as digitalisation along the supply chain, the promotion of biodiversity or vertical farming.

SOCIAL

Tafel Baden-Württemberg
We support the Swabian food banks in avoiding food waste by providing high quality goods that are distributed to the socially and economically disadvantaged.

SOCIAL

Measures such as healthy catering, the promotion of physical activity and a health-friendly workplace design help to promote the health of our employees. For this reason, a concept for promoting employee health is to be developed that will allow us to keep our sickness rate permanently below the figures published by the IWD. A large number of employees are already making use of the job bike option.

ECONOMY

For products packaged in-house, the materials used are 100% recyclable. We aim to reduce the amount of plastic packaging by 10% by 2026.

Sustainable management

Our guidelines

Conserve resources

We use resources responsibly. For example, we use modern irrigation techniques for water-conserving cultivation, regularly modernise our storage locations and use the waste heat from our greenhouse operations.

Strengthen team spirit

We encourage personal responsibility and team spirit. Team events such as football tournaments or team excursions strengthen our team spirit and sense of cohesion outside the office.

Work in partnership

We stand for reliable and cooperative partnership and, together with our partners, continuously develop solutions for the successful production and marketing of fresh fruit and vegetables.

Fair treatment

We act fairly along the entire value chain. We value sustainable agricultural management, e.g. with a well thought-out crop rotation schedule, careful use of resources and measures to promote biodiversity.

Compensation programmes

Further information

Avoiding food waste

We love to appreciate the value of people and nature. For that reason, we’re keen to take part in various initiatives that help to reduce food waste. Fruit and vegetables that fail to meet requirements and standards can thus find an alternative route to our plates. For example, Schwäbische Tafel e.V. drops in at our cold storage facility every day and picks up ‘surplus goods’ for its food banks in the region. At etepetete, end consumers can order bio-boxes filled with different combinations of goods. We are also happy to support our customers’ concepts and supply them with ‘B-goods’ for their sustainable labels, such as ‘Die etwas anderen’ or ‘Krumme Dinger’.

For an extra portion of fruit and vegetables

As part of the EU school programme, we supply schools with fresh, locally grown fruit and vegetables. This gives the children a taste of these fresh foods and allows them to learn at an early age how to integrate them into their everyday diet. Through the educational support of the programme, children learn more about where the food comes from, the variety of products and how to eat a balanced diet. They also improve important food skills.

Modern tomato cultivation

The greenhouse in Zorbau draws its energy from a microgrid network, making it a pioneer in Germany. Microgrids are self-sufficient sufficient island networks that do not burden the public power grid – therefore becoming increasingly important for the energy transition. In 2020, we set up a full LED lighting system for our cultivational processes. Thanks to this, we have been able to reduce energy consumption by approx. 25%, compared to conventional lighting systems. Also in 2020, we avoided producing 1,326 tonnes of CO2 emissions, by using 100% green electricity at all Gemüsering Group locations.

Research for the future

In collaboration with the Weihenstephan-Triesdorf University of Applied Sciences (HSWT), a vertical farming container provided by Gemüsering is being used to scientifically support indoor farming as part of various projects. The Weihenstephan-Triesdorf University of Applied Sciences has received a Growtainer for research and training purposes. The HSWT researches, among other things, product quality and resource efficiency in plant production in indoor farming systems”.

Renewable energy for production

Gemüsering already uses many existing roof areas to generate energy at almost all of our production sites. The electricity from the photovoltaic systems at the Friedrichskoog location covers 15% of the requirements to operate the cold-storage rooms and is fed in directly. This produces savings of around 50 tonnes of CO₂. Ideal conditions near to the North Sea coast make the operation of our own wind power plants efficient and ensure energy supply, even during the darker months of the year.

Solarpark Green Energy

Green Energy, the affiliate of the Gemüsering Group, operates photovoltaic systems in Germany. Through large-scale solar panel installations on open fields as well as on many roofs of Gemüsering’s production and marketing buildings, Green Energy produces solar energy which is not only used for its own needs but is also fed into the public grid.

Sustainability

Gemüsering goes Zero

Pioneer in climate neutrality: Gemüsering Stuttgart is the first company in the "fresh vegetables and fruit" sector to commit to consistently pursuing the path to climate neutrality at its own site and along the supply chain.

Gemüsering

ZNU-certified

The ZNU standard for sustainable management allows Gemüsering to make an active and measurable contribution to sustainable changes in the economy and society step-by-step.

certified company in the fruit+veg sector

Gemüsering locations already certified by 2024

locations are planned to be certified by the end of 2023

Gemüsering locations planned by the end of 2026

Sustainable management

Goals and achievements

Sustainable management

Our guidelines

Conserve resources

We use resources responsibly. For example, we use modern irrigation techniques for water-conserving cultivation, regularly modernise our storage locations and use the waste heat from our greenhouse operations.

Strengthen team spirit

We encourage personal responsibility and team spirit. Team events such as football tournaments or team excursions strengthen our team spirit and sense of cohesion outside the office.

Work in partnership

We stand for reliable and cooperative partnership and, together with our partners, continuously develop solutions for the successful production and marketing of fresh fruit and vegetables.

Fair treatment

We act fairly along the entire value chain. We value sustainable agricultural management, e.g. with a well thought-out crop rotation schedule, careful use of resources and measures to promote biodiversity.

Compensation programmes

Further information

Interview