Transforming waste into valuable biogas and fertiliser resources
Protecting the environment means acting on waste and our goal is to continually reduce the refuse generated by our activities.
Introducing innovations in circularity and upcycling allows us to make use of resources that would otherwise be disposed of, helping to reduce our environmental impact.
Using waste as fertiliser in Vietnam
A good example of our innovative approach comes from our Givaudan Vietnam site, where a local team has developed a new use for botanical waste by transforming it into fertiliser instead of sending it to landfill.
In a twelve-month period to August 2024, the site diverted a whopping 1,345 tonnes of waste from the landfill, sending it instead to a company that transforms it into useful recycled fertiliser for use by local farmers.
The initial scope of the project involved a series of trials and identifying a local source capable of turning the botanical waste into organic fertiliser. The collaborative initiative nevertheless went well beyond this first step.
The team also orchestrated a closed-loop operation, providing guidance and technical support, enabling farmers to maximise the benefits of the recycled fertiliser. This initiative aimed to help farmers improve the quality of their crops and improve the quality of their yields while reducing their reliance on chemical fertilisers and continuing to protect the environment.
Valorising waste through biogas production in Egypt
Biogas, a type of renewable energy produced from the breakdown of organic matter is now being generated in the site producing food flavours. In Egypt, a biogas station is taking 100% of the site’s powder waste and using it as an activator for biogas production.
By September 2024, over a period of twelve months, the site had diverted around 378 tonnes of waste from landfills, demonstrating the significant potential of biogas as a lever for waste valorisation and sustainable energy generation.