Environment economy society
Sustainable Development Report 2012/2013
www.soufflet.com
editorial
From Sustainable Development to CSR The Soufflet Group's 10 Commitments Environmental 1
Promote Efficient and Eco-aware Agriculture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
2
Preserve Resources, in particular Water and Energy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
3
Reduce Environmental Impact . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
4
Optimise Logistics to Benefit the Environment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
5
Limit Greenhouse Gas Emissions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Economic 6
Foster Innovation in all Fields of Activity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
7
Guarantee the Health, Safety and Quality of Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Jean-Michel Soufflet, Chairman of the Management Board
social 8
Ensure the Safety of Goods and Personnel and Preserve the Welfare of Employees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
9
Transmit and Preserve Social and Ethical Values . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
10
Strengthen Ties with the Socio-economic Environment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
F
or several years the Soufflet Group has decided to inscribe its growth in a genuine logic of Sustainable Development. In 2010, in order to materialise this orientation it made ten precise commitments, which were officially announced and scrupulously implemented. Each year they provide the structure for our Sustainable Development Report, in which they bear eloquent witness to our efforts and progress. You will find them again in this assessment of our 2012-2013 year. From the beginning, our commitments respected an underlying logic: that of the firm’s stakeholders, which consist in all natural, economic, and social environments. In the foundations of our approach in favour of Sustainable Development one could already identify an awareness of what one calls CSR, “Corporate and Social Responsibility”. I would like to emphasise this: the Soufflet Group intends to pursue its agro-industrial business with respect, not only for the energy and plant resources provided by nature, but also for its clients and suppliers, its partners as well as its competitors, its collaborators and their families, its public interlocutors as well as the interests of civil society. This is the
line of conduct that we set for ourselves at all times. Today, now that we have become more mature and that we have a proven track record in the field of Sustainable Development, CSR truly appears to be the best way to qualify our approach. This has in fact already been materialised in our organisation. Since the spring of 2013, the role of our Group’s HR Department has been broadened: it now integrates the field of CSR and has been rebranded Human and Social Relations Department. This is one of the structural signs demonstrating that our choices are genuine. I invite you to discover more of them. Waste reprocessing, energy savings, biomass boilers, rail and inland waterway transportation, innovation culture, progress in the field of safety, improved governance: as many fields in which the Soufflet Group demonstrates its concern for society and the good of others in its day to day activity.
Annual Sustainable Development Report of the Soufflet Group / November 2013 Groupe Soufflet - Quai du Général Sarrail - BP 12 - 10 402 Nogent-sur-Seine Cedex - France / Tél.: +33 (0)3 25 39 41 11 - Fax: +33 (0)3 25 39 00 87 Coordination: Communications Department: Thierry Berger - Sustainable Development Department: Luc Bouchard / Bruno Cothenet Creation: Agence Anastase - Printing: Imprimerie Utim - Photos: Groupe Soufflet / Philippe Masson / Philipp Martin / Patrice Pascal / Pascal Bourguignon / Isabelle Girollet / Gabos Chris / Fotolia / Filimages / Thinkstock / Getty Images 2
Sustainable Development Report 2013
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1
Promoting Efficient and Eco-Aware Agriculture
BENEFIT
For Eco-Aware Agriculture
Farming is the unchangeable base activity of all of the Soufflet Group's businesses. As a grain collector we do all we can to ensure that our farming-partners are able to achieve both economic and environmental performance.
KEY FIGURES Organic Malts
+138% Organic Pilsen malts sold in 2012 and 2013
+425% Organic wheat malts sold in 2012 and 2013
163.8
agriculture & vine
Certiphyto: A Crucial Step
T
his past year was an important milestone for Soufflet Agriculture and Soufflet Vigne, both having a shared deadline to meet dictated by the EcoPhyto 2018 directive: by October 2013 not only all individuals, such as Technical Advisory Consultants had to be certified, but also firms distributing plant protection products had to be officially re-certified by the Ministry of Agriculture. Four new sets of regulatory guidelines, combining a total of around one hundred requirements had to be taken into account. This led to an in-depth review of the Division's businesses, following three major focus areas, including the requirement to provide clients with information on Plant Protection Products (PPP), Best Agricultural Practice (BAP), and the requirement to justify and keep track of all our recommendations. From February to May 2013 the tool selected to keep track of advice and recommendations (Atland Pro, edited by MaFerme) was deployed for our teams, which received specific training to use the application. At the same time Soufflet Agriculture and Soufflet Vigne continued to provide their client farmers and wine-growers with adequate
243.9
246.7
189.1
246.1
211.7
37.4
60.3
INDICATOR
112
agrifaune LABEL Nitrate-Fixing Cover Crops distributed by Soufflet Agriculture continue to combine agronomic benefits and service to biodiversity. This year the MICAmine, MICAzin and MICAra mixes from the MICA product line received the Agrifaune Interculture© label : this acknowledges the fact that Nitrate-Fixing Cover Crops play a role in the preservation of small wildlife. Tests conducted with the Biodiversity for Bees Network have also provided very positive results showing that Etamine brown mustard, which is the base-component of our mixes, is an ideal autumn food for bees. By providing foraging species with a high-quality alimentary bolus, our Nitrate-Fixing Cover Crops help them maintain good health during the winter.
10/11
11/12
12/13
Overview of the Tonnages Collected by ADIVALOR Packaging: cans, canisters, boxes and bags Packaging: big-bags and bags
agriculture
ADIVALOR celebrates its 10 years 2012 marked ADIVALOR's tenth anniversary. A pioneer in the collection of agricultural waste, (cans, bags, canvas sheets etc.) the firm has developed several reprocessing activities allowing it to capture on average 63% of agricultural waste, 94% of which is recycled into tubes, bin bags, insulating sheets, cardboard boxes, etc. Soufflet Agriculture took an active part in a study that was conducted on the recycling of paper seed bags into cardboard for plasterboard partitions. Two extra recycling activities were launched in May 2013 with the collection of packaging nets and strings. Soufflet Agriculture collected respectively 150 and 320 m3 from farmers, who consider this type of collection to be a genuine service in support of their sorting habits.
training, reaching a total of around 2,000 people trained over the last business cycles. In June 2013 the Divisions were audited. The audit focussed on work organisation, practices (advisory, sales and application) related to Plant Protection Products and on the infrastructure of firms. The positive result - the certification was renewed -
is a testimony to the mobilization of the teams, which were faced with an important re-structuring of their business: thanks to the EcoPhyto agenda, Soufflet Agriculture and Soufflet Vigne move towards a new form of client support, yet more qualitative, and resolutely committed to a highlevel of service and to promoting environmental friendliness.
PISTE 1
viNE
The Fertech Product Line
Fertech
IN SHORT…
L A F E RT IL ISAT ION TECHNIQUE
In March 2013 Soufflet Vigne entirely re-designed its fertiliser product range for wine-growing, which it distributes under the Fertech brand, a contraction of "Technical Fertilisation". In both its liquid and solid form, Fertech has the environmental advantage of limiting nitrate leaching risks, thanks to localised inputs and to slowrelease nitrogen (70% of nitrogen with nitrification retardants). The re-design of this product offering was a success, with sales growing by over 50%.
BIO Malts from organic farming are increasingly sought after. This year, overall, organic malts from our catalogue grew by 250%. Four new product references were launched in this product line: rye malt in 2012 and in early 2013 the Vienna, Munich 20 and Munich 30 malts.
agriculture
A 100% Natural Fertiliser Product Line A full range of bio-sourced products for crops was launched in Eastern Europe this year. The product offering composed of three product lines (FERTEQ for fertilisers, GUARDTEQ for protection and ADTEQ for adjuvants) was developed to answer the needs of barley, wheat, rapeseed and corn crops. This 100% natural product range, distributed under the Soufflet Agro brand, is available in the Czech Republic, Romania, Poland and soon in Ukraine and Russia. Broadly endorsed by farmers it generated a 700 K€ turnover during its first year on the market.
Used Agricultural Films
4
Sustainable Development Report 2013
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1/ Promoting Efficient and Eco-Aware Agriculture
Promoting Economically Efficient Farming
364
2
208
305
480
INDICATOR
Preserving Resources, in Particular Water and Energy
11/12
Growth of the volume of sector specific contracts sold by Milling over the past five years Sector contracts are designed to meet specific market requirements (agronomic approach, eco-friendly cultivation approach, insecticide-free storage...) all the while adding-value for farmers.
DRIED VEGETABLES
Quinoa Grown in France Quinoa, which originated in the Andes, where it has grown on the High Andean Plateau for many millennia, integrated the Soufflet Alimentaire product line in 2008, before experimental crops were grown in the Anjou and Poitou regions, starting in 2009. In 2012, close to 500 tonnes were harvested in France, and in early 2013 Soufflet Alimentaire reserved 225 tonnes of this French quinoa for the needs of its clients. This new product reference favours short logistics circuits and consequently has a low ecological impact.
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T
12/13
MALTING
India: A Sector under Development
I
n India, a new growth area for the Soufflet Group, several important milestones for our development strategy of a genuine local malting barley sector, were reached this year. In 2010, Malteries Soufflet started to show interest for this country, undergoing strong economic development, and in which beer consumption is growing despite the very insufficient quality of the locally produced malting barley. Currently, each year, India produces over 90 million tonnes of wheat, over 100 million tonnes of rice but only 1.6 million tonnes of barley. In line with its strategy to bring producers closer to consumers, Malteries Soufflet endeavoured to place its experience at the disposal of Indian maltsters in order to boost the farming business
IN SHORT… WEB
The new agriculture.fr Extranet, that went live on the web in April 2013, gives farmers access to Opticollecte, a decision support tool allowing them to monitor the management of the commercialisation of their productions on-line. A step further in the real-time support offered to our clients.
ANNIVERSARY In October 2012, Malteries Soufflet celebrated in Prague the 10 years of its establishment in the Czech Republic. A winning decade thanks to the synergies found with Soufflet Agro, which allowed the two firms to become the leaders of the barley and malt markets. TOOL Soufflet Agriculture, aiming to develop the collection of winter and spring barley in Romania, acquired two silos in the south-east of the country end of 2012: Braïla, which can store 25,000 tonnes and Tanderei 24,000. They employ 30 people.
upstream of this sector. Starting in 2011, a long phase of variety discovery and experimentation was launched, in order to test new barley seeds in the region. The very conclusive results of these tests better productivity for less water usage - led to the implementation of contractualisation agreements with 350 farmers towards the end of 2012, through the intermediary of a local maltster.
he designing of the new sourdough production workshop at Lyven in Colombelles (Calvados Department) was conducted with a constant focus on energy efficiency, leading to a full review of the site's thermal scheme. The choice of novel equipment and methods led to the improvement of yields throughout the site: • Creation of a dedicated hot water network to save steam, the yield of which was not optimal.
These installations were designed and put in service in June 2013. A full assessment of the energy saved will be established during the next semester.
Natural resources are fragile and some are not renewable. For this reason they are precious and must be respected to avoid endangering or wasting them.
INDICATOR
As part of these deals, farmers received high quality seeds and a team of farming relations agents to assist them with agronomic advice in exchange for the purchase of their harvests at a guaranteed price. Sown between October and November 2012 the barley harvests, which began in April 2013, provided remarkable quality and volumes, above the standards reached in the previous years. 08/09
09/10
10/11
95.6*
10/11
BENEFIT
97
09/10
• Full review of engine specifications with the installation of electronic variable speed drives to save energy without losing out on performance. • Heat recovery from a dryer's fume extractor to heat buildings. • Condensate recovery from the dryer to pre-heat process water. • Advanced insulation of all heat transfer fluids • Waste water recycling to save rinse water.
100
08/09
Overhaul of the thermal Scheme at Lyven
94.8
100
biotechnologies
11/12
malting
A year and half of BOOST The BOOST project (Barley Origination Optimisation STrategy) aiming to enhance the local supply of malting barley in Central Europe and the CIS countries passed the 18 months milestone in March 2013 and is now bearing its first fruits. In Romania, the collection of winter barley, better adapted to the climate conditions there, has grown by 40% over two seasons. In the Czech Republic three-year contracts were signed between 2013 and 2015 to secure the entire sector from farmer to brewer. Finally in Ukraine collection in the vicinity of the malt house grew by 8% in two years, reducing transport distances as a consequence.
Electricity Consumption by tonne of malt produced at Malteries Soufflet base 100 (with constant perimeter and ex Bulgaria/Germany/Brazil). *The increased consumption in the 11-12 campaign is the result of a particularly cold winter requiring more thermal energy. This increase does not affect the trend.
malting
2% per Annum: Goal Met For over 10 years, each year, Malteries Soufflet reduced its energy consumption by 2%. During the 2012-2013 year this same goal was maintained for the plants beyond a specified level. For the others, the goal was to continue the effort to reduce energy consumption or to stabilise it. On the various European sites, investments were made, aiming at improving the energy-efficiency processes. In 2013, our German subsidiary, Durst Maltz received the ISO 50 001 certification (Energy Management), proving the pertinence of our efforts to reduce energy consumption.
Sustainable Development Report 2013
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2/ Preserve Resources, in Particular Water and Energy
KEY FIGURE
3
- 15,000 m
3
of water consumed by Soufflet Alimentaire's doypack workshop over 5 years
IN SHORT…
group
The Soufflet Group monitors the waste generated by its businesses across all its sites. This type of vigilance ensures that both value-loss risks and undesirable environmental impacts are limited.
F MILLING
Global Energy-Saving Plan
W
ith ten mills (nine in France and one in Belgium) the Milling Division is by nature a heavy energy consumer, due in particular to its flour production process. In order to optimise its environmental contribution and to reduce its electricity, gas and water bills, Moulins Soufflet has launched an internal action plan aimed at reducing its energy consumption by 10% in five years. This concerns both the industrial processes and human organisation. In order to reach this goal, three pilot sites were chosen, Brussels (CERES), Corbeil and Dienville, in which an energy mapping system was deployed followed by the installation of meters for each production sector (reception, cleaning, grinding,
parboiling and mixing). The analysis of the energy used during the milling process will be used to focus on the processes consuming the most and for which more energy-efficient equipment will gradually be installed (high-efficiency motors, frequency converters, capacitor banks, geothermal energy, clean energy, energy recovery). Human Involvement is not left out: QHSE (Quality, Health, Safety, Environment) agents are required to get involved with this approach by raising staff awareness at each mill in regard to their responsibilities, by setting up relevant procedures and by developing indicators to monitor performances. An indicator comparing sites (KWh/tonnes), taking into account the activity at the mills, has also been developed to encourage crews to progress at the same pace.
milling
A Source to Exploit The Pornic mill's site has a water drilling that has not been exploited in many years. After investigation it has been decided to install a new drilling-water treatment plant. This water will be used throughout the site and in particular for wheat wetting, which is the largest water-consumption area. This investment will result in savings of up to 3,000 m3 per annum for the town's water network.
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BENEFIT
When Waste Management Becomes Virtuous
GAIN This year Malteries Soufflet electronically archived all its French clients' invoices on JDE. This migration replaces paper archiving and generates both a gain of time and consumables savings.
CEE The equipment of Soufflet Alimentaire's Valenciennes site with new compressors, in 2012, resulted in the optimisation of their electricity consumption. Thanks to various pieces of equipment (variable speed drive, heat recovery system, sequencer, high-efficiency motor) 5 CEE plugs were installed with EDF on this project.
Reducing the Environmental Impact
or a long time managing waste has been a key focus in the Group's various Divisions. The Malting Division has now reached its goal of 100% recycled waste. For more than 5 years, Moulins Soufflet has implemented an ambitious plan to sort and recycle plastic, cardboard, neon lights, wood, scrap iron, laboratory products as well as oils and grease. In this field, Soufflet Alimentaire is the most advanced Division: for 10 years now, the Valenciennes site's Production and Maintenance department has been helping teams to sort
malting
Waste Reduction
Reducing and improving the quality of its waste is an on-going concern for Malteries Soufflet. In 2012, seven of the Division's sites (Pithiviers, Nogent, Polisy, Arcis, Prouvy, Saint-Saulve and Brazey) all equipped with water treatment stations, received a certification for the regular monitoring of waste water, from the water supply agencies, in application of the law on water and aquatic environments (LEMA law). Several of our other pieces of equipment were also improved: installation of a screening drum and an aerator in Slavuta (Ukraine), repair of the scrapers in Nymburk and Hodonice (Czech Republic), installation of Hydro Jectors at Saint-Saulve (59) and repair of the output channel of the Polisy (10) water treatment station.
Sustainable Development Report 2013
KEY FIGURE
10,000 e
waste, to find appropriate channels to give value to waste, and to optimise removal logistics. The result is that today sorting waste is no longer a cost centre, but a profit centre generating a positive turnover in 2013. One of the more recent reprocessing agreements concerns Ordinary Industrial Waste (OIW). Since the second semester of 2012, an agreement was reached with a new waste collector for their removal. Previously incinerated OIW, which is primarily composed of plastic waste with high calorific value, is now crushed and transformed into pellets for furnaces at cement manufactures. Their ashes are subsequently re-introduced into the cement. In the end, this represents 120 tonnes of OIW per annum finding a second life. But this is not all: Soufflet Alimentaire is now looking to find a solution to give value to its PET packagings (polyethylene terephthalate) currently disposed of as OIW.
GREEN SPACES
Amount won by Soufflet Alimentaire by adding value to its waste.
IN SHORT… SUCCES The disinsectisation of Moulins Soufflet's silos through thermal weeding continues. This technique is proving to be extremely efficient (insect elimination is close to 99%) and this with no atmospheric release of insecticides or any exposure risk to harmful molecules for staff members. This method has been deployed across all our sites in France and Belgium with the goal to continue to improve the performances of this technique.
Weeding Without Herbicides
Soufflet Vigne's Green Spaces and Horticulture product line, which is constantly striving for more ecofriendliness, has developed a new arsenal of alternative weeding methods, which prevent the usage of chemical herbicides on roadsides. Thermal weeders enjoyed a 30% growth this year. Preventive sowing on roadsides and embankments reached close to 450,000m² in 2012-2013 which is 3 times the surface sown in 2011-2012. Furthermore the sowing of flowers in extension areas, which represented 530,000 m² in 2012 now occupies close to 1,000,000m², all the while ensuring more biodiversity.
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Optimise Logistics to Benefit the Environment
4
Maritime Loading Soufflet Négoce continues to rely on the first rate logistics solution provided by the Dunkirk port, one of the rare French deep-water ports dedicated to exports. During the previous year 150,000 tonnes had transited through this port. In 2012-2013 the volumes have grown significantly, reaching 232,000 tonnes.
BENEFIT Road transportation has a heavy impact on the environment (noise, exhaust gas, traffic, safety). To optimise the loading and flow of goods, while favouring inland river transportation and rail roads, is to minimise its impact.
INDICATOR Tonnages received and dispatched by rail or inland waterways (in thousands of tonnes)
milling
869
1,251
1,169
1,345
A Broad Logistics Improvement Plan
09/10
10/11
11/12
12/13
2,080
2,218
2,160
2,199
RAIL
09/10
10/11
11/12
12/13
RIVER 10
Developing Rail Transportation
H
ighly concerned by the significant flow of raw agricultural materials in a wide portion of the French territory as well as in Belgium, the Milling Division pursued the implementation of an ambitious logistics improvement plan. The project divides itself in two main parts: infrastructure and organisation. Part of the infrastructure has changed: • since February 2013 the new Thor mill's wheat pit (Vaucluse) is now operational, which enables inbound ship deliveries from the Pontet port; consequently 15 to 25% of the wheat is now delivered by barge and the goal is to reach 30% representing the saving of 6,000 KMs of road transportation each month. • the Corbeil mill (Essonne) is now equipped, since February 2013, with a loading dock for containers and is fully operational since March; 1,500 tonnes per week of produce, packaged in bags, are loaded into containers and transported to the Evry port, from where they are shipped to Le Havre on barges and then exported. In this way Moulins Soufflet makes use of all the potential of its industrial equipment in the Ilede France region, all the while favouring inland water transportation.
The organisation of logistics is also affected: • usage of the truck fleet has been optimised: their fuel consumption has been reduced by 3.8% and the ratio of kilometres by delivered tonne was reduced by 2.6%.
• all inter-site transportation between mills and storages or from mill to mill, both in bulk and for packaged flour, are now done in 44 tonne lorries, against 40 tonne trucks before. This has led to a 15% gain by transport unit and reduced the usage of vehicles by 14%.
KEY FIGURE
96%
the rate of client service for the Supply Chain of AIT Ingredient's factory in Creil.
IN SHORT…
The growth of cereal collection by Soufflet Agriculture necessitates a better usage of our special connections, currently available at 11 silos. Being able to load a train means shipping 1,300 tonnes in one day. In three quarters of the current year the La Chapelle-Saint-Ursin silo was able to load 117 trains, with a peak of 15 trains scheduled over 21 business days in April. Currently rail transportation accounts for 25% of Soufflet Agriculture's shipments, yet still has significant room for improvement.
RICE & DRIED VEGETABLES
Waste: Minimal logistics At Soufflet Alimentaire the optimisation of logistics for the removal of waste has generated a significant decrease in costs. The removal of recyclable cardboard and plastic bales is no longer performed with skip buckets but rather with sheeted trucks in which they can be stacked. This reduces the number of removals and the transport from an average of 9 per month to 5. This optimisation has been implemented with a new service provider, which recycles the waste and no longer bills us for their removal. The savings generated represent approximately 10 K€ per annum.
Sustainable Development Report 2013
TOOL Equipped with a new automatic palletizer, AIT Ingredients changed its standard pallet size from 800 to 900 kg thanks to which it has reduced the amount of lorry-loads needed. The savings in logistics are significant and in the region of 35 to 40 K€ per annum. The savings in plastic film for packaging are also significant: up to 50 K€ per annum.
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3,098 tonnes of oil equivalent. This year, the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions amounts to 6,655 tonnes of CO2. The boiler has already reached a service ratio of 78%: the goal is to reach 91% in 2013-2014. Finally, in Arles, Soufflet Alimentaire continues its rice parboiling activity thanks to a biomass-fired steam boiler. With 11,000 tonnes of rice husks burnt each year, no usage is made of fossil fuel and 51,000 MWh of useful power is produced for a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of 11,628 tonnes of CO2.
Limit Greenhouse Gas Emissions
5 benefit
The clear evidence of a link between greenhouse gas emissions and global warming incites us to limit them.
milling
INDICATOR
7 sites
14 sites
18 sites
23 sites
Labelling Test with Casino
09/10
10/11
11/12
12/13
Soufflet sites that have calculated their carbon footprint
KEY FIGURE
87%
of the Souflet Group's French industrial sites (Malting, Milling, Foods, Lyven) have calculated their carbon footprint.
After the launch of a carbon index for each of its products in 2008, the Casino Group has unveiled a multi-criteria labelling solution this year, called the Environmental Index. Based on three criteria (Greenhouse Gas Emissions, water consumption and water pollution) it allows consumers to make their choices according to the impact of products on the environment during their life cycle. Moulins Soufflet has joined this initiative with T45 flour and fine flour sold to consumers in 1 kg packs.
mALTing
Biomass Boiler: Ukraine's Turn
A
fter their success in France, the deployment of biomass boilers continues at Malteries Soufflet. In 2012-2013 a full scale study was completed in preparation of the building of a new installation, using this type of technology, in Slavuta, Ukraine. The project plans on generating a power of 6.5 MW, based on the potential consumption of the 13,500 tonnes of dust produced by the cleaning of cereals and malts each year. The energy produced will correspond
to annual savings of over 10,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent and 3,700 tonnes of oil equivalent. Once the study had been completed, the equipment was ordered in June 2013. The installation works are planned to be carried out between July 2013 and March 2014, for a commissioning in the beginning of next spring. The overall cost of the investment project is 4 M€. In Nogent, the second year of operation of the biomass boiler - and first complete year - allowed the recycling of 9,036 tonnes of dust into fuel. 29,189 kWh of useful energy were produced by replacing an equivalent of 36,036 MWh (HCV) of natural gas, generating savings of
environment
in short… SMART By following TOP GREEN's recommendations on mixes capturing the most CO2, Soufflet Vigne's product line for lawns has enabled the capturing of close to 3,400 tonnes of CO2 on sowings this year. RAPESEED 1 In order to commercialise raw materials for the manufacturing of biofuels, Soufflet Agriculture has committed itself on the sustainability of their production process as part of the 2BSvs certification. This is the case for rapeseed in particular: in 2012 over 60% of the rapeseed collected was certified as sustainable, in 2013 it was 93% of the collection, representing 430,000 tonnes. RAPESEED 2 The regulation on biofuels requires the production of rapeseed to have a greenhouse gas balance that is lower than the exploitation of fossil fuels by at least 35%. Soufflet Agriculture's latest rapeseed campaign already reveals a greenhouse gas balance lower by 50.8%. An action plan aims to further improve this performance during the 2013-2014 campaign.
economy
Beyond its environmental commitments, which aim at preserving the diversity and balance of nature, the Soufflet Group plans its development in accordance with the interests of its clients, because meeting their new requirements and answering their needs in terms of quality and health, means engaging in a relationship that can be long lasting. This is the purpose of our economic commitments.
agriculture
Assessment on Greenhouse Gas Emissions
As a consequence of the laws fixed by the Grenelle Environment Forum, the French regulation requires Soufflet Agriculture to assess its greenhouse gas emissions; this was due by 31st December 2012 and will be updated every 3 years. This assessment takes into account all the activities of staff and sites. Based on the 2010-2011 campaign it has led to the identification of 13,201 tonnes of CO2 equivalent in direct emissions and 5,180 tonnes of CO2 equivalent in indirect emissions. An action plan over 3 years, focussing on the reform of transportations and dryers, has been established.
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Sustainable Development Report 2013
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Grand Chef Pastry Product Line Between October 2012 and January 2013 AIT Ingredients has unveiled four new pastry recipes for its Grand Chef product line. Madeleines, Spéculoos , Biscuits, Cannelés: all popular products, as delicious as they are easy and quick to prepare.
Foster Innovation in all fields of Activity
6
Whole-Grain Baguépi
benefit
The whole-grain baguette made its way to traditionalbakers thanks to Baguépi in November 2012. Soft, smooth and with a light interior, it has reconciled all those who tasted it with wholemeal bread, which is highly recommended by nutritionists.
biotechnologies
To innovate is to take into account the time factor, which requires the regular re-definition of processes and means, in order to stay turned towards the future and the long term. It is always possible to improve performances, be they economic, social or environmental.
4,452
6,019
8,909
10,743
indicator
09/10
10/11
11/12
12/13
Group R&D budget growth (in Ke)
KEY FIGURE
2
patents deposited with the INPI in 2012-2013
Inauguration of the Research and Technology Hall
O
n 4th October 2012 the new Research and Technology Hall (HTR) was inaugurated in Nogent-sur-Seine in the presence of M. Guillaume Garot, Deputy Minister for Agrifood and M. François Drouin, Chairman of OSEO. Along with 160 other guests hosted by Michel and Jean-Michel Soufflet, they were able to measure the extent in which Research and Development are a key investment area for the Soufflet Group, through its Biotechnologies Division. With its 2,000 m² the HTR is designed to conduct tests, at the pre-industrial level, on the production of enzymes and biocatalysts for the Soufflet Group's partners, using solid state fermentation (SSF). It is associated with the Soufflet Centre for Research and Innovation (CRIS), which was also inaugurated on the same day. In its 1,400 m² divided out in 4 ultramodern floors, it brings together 70 researchers and technicians dealing with the screening of microorganisms and the unexploited potential of agro-resources, primarily for animal feed, human health and the production of bio-ethanol. Brought together this year, the CRIS and the HTR boast unique, state of the art equipment, showcasing the Soufflet Group's global ambitions in the field of agro-industrial innovation.
milling
Great Mountain Unveiled by Prolac at the SIAL in October 2012, the new Great Mountain product line for powdered milks is re-fattened with vegetable fat. A cheaper approach allowing for easier distribution on the African markets.
A pastry product line multiplying original and tasty variations for choux pastry. Launched in February 2013, the product line is comprehensive and ready to use with its recipes, its packaging and its point of sale advertising.
encounters
A Day for New Flavours
Baguépi Mix Sandwich Because bakeries are the number-one food take-away for the French, Baguépi launched its Sandwich Mix special in April 2013. It is a combo of three minisandwiches with varied flavours to compose a both savoury and sweet meal.
Organic Malts Malteries Soufflet delivered 25 tonnes of organic malt in 2010 and produced 560 tonnes this year. Four new references were launched in this product line: rye malt in 2012 and in early 2013 the Vienna, Munich 20 and Munich 30 malts.
The second edition of « Rencontres Actual’IT » took place on 30th May 2013 in Corbeil-Essonnes. This day "dedicated to flavour" was organised by AIT Ingredients and Moulins Soufflet to meet thirty industrial and professional bread-makers from Europe as well as North Africa. The goal: share experiences, confront ideas and stimulate the imagination. Eight workshops allowed each and every one to focus on their theme of interest and in particular to showcase the advantages of sourdoughs as a natural ingredient dedicated to creativity and gustatory enjoyment.
agriculture
Millet for the United States Thanks to its recent establishment in the Cher, Soufflet Agriculture broadens its collection business with a new cereal: millet, the production of which is primarily localised in the Centre region. Millet, which is not very well known in France, with a total annual production of only 40,000 tonnes, disposes of interesting outlets: Soufflet Négoce has commercialised 580 tonnes, which were shipped to Florida and Maryland, where they were used for the bird raising industry.
Cereal Valley Cluster: Innovating Together
In August 2012 Moulins Soufflet joined the Cereals Valley Competitiveness Cluster, located in Clermont-Ferrand and entirely focussed on issues related to the cereals sector. Our participation should help boost innovation by sharing our R&D projects with several other firms and by pooling resources so as to make them reach industrial-scale applicability. Four types of research areas have been chosen: variety development, value addition to co-products, innovative technologies and the study of the impact of wheat on health through diet.
14
Chouchou de Paris
Sushi Yorokobi Rice A round and white Japonica type rice, from 100% French origin, specially designed for the professional preparation of sushi. Available for sale since May 2013, its name means "Delight".
Class'6® vertical
milling
A new wine packaging carton launched by Soufflet Vigne at the Bordeaux Viniteh-Sifel trade fair in November 2012. Following Class’6® flat , Class’6® vertical saves cardboard and showcases bottles more efficiently.
Bio-Sourced Fertilisers
Bovimalt® Osiris has developed a new natural biocatalyst, Bovimalt®, a mix of wheat and malted fermented wheat particles, favouring the weight gain and lactation of ruminants. Bovimalt® is an end product originating from the Group's biotechnologies R&D.
Sourdough Factory This year, Lyven's Colombelles factory was equipped with a new workshop for the production of sourdoughs for the Soufflet Group's needs. Sourdough is an ingredient, which has an impact on the taste of bread-making products, and is a high value generator. Sustainable Development Report 2013
In Eastern Europe Soufflet Agro has launched a full product line for agriculture: FERTEQ for fertilisers, GUARDTEQ for protection and ADTEQ for additives. These natural products have been developed for barley, wheat, rapeseed and corn crops.
Intermediary Crops Soufflet Agriculture's MICA product line, built around Etamine brown mustard, welcomes MICACOLZA, this year, a new Anicia lentil and both common and purple vetch mix, designed to help increase rapeseed yields.
Belgium Promotes Craftsmanship In March 2013, Cérès opened a novel store on the Dumon square in Brussels. Created under the "Le Boulanger Artisan / De Warme Backer" brand it is intended to be a test-store, open to the public in a flourishing commercial neighbourhood, in which it promotes the quality of craftsmanship, but also to welcome professional bread-making clients around an ultra-modern test-oven in order to help exchange experiences. 15
7
Guarantee the Health, Safety and Quality of Products
benefit
group
The Soufflet Group is committed to producing foods that have a beneficial effect on the health of consumers, with quality levels that are always both optimal and acknowledged.
indicator
CLEVER: Intelligent Information Dedicated to Quality
T
90.7%
92%
92.6%
93.5%
owards the end of 2012 a transversal and international project, named «Quality Leverage» - also referred to as « Clever », was launched in the Group under the management of the Quality / Safety / Environment Department (QSE). Its Goal: To ensure the collection and harmonised processing of data related to quality, in a broad understanding of the term, in order to manage the optimisation of the Group's overall performances.
09/10
10/11
11/12
12/13
Satisfaction ratio of the hygiene and cleanliness audits (across all of the Soufflet Group's sites)
A first creation phase focussed on the collection and harmonisation of processes within the Group's various businesses, such as the monitoring of events (customer claims, non-conformity product reports, occupational accidents, and identified dysfunctions), the management of documentation, the management of audits and auto-evaluations as well as the management of improvement plans.
Traceability Alert Test As part of its management of Quality, Moulins Soufflet organises each year a full-scale test of the withdrawal of a product, to test and optimise its efficiency in this regard. The average time of a traceability test for the withdrawal of a product is 2h30 at most sites, for a reactivity requirement of less than 4h from our clients.
16
Food Defence In order to conform to food safety requirements and following requests from several larger clients, Moulins Soufflet took preventive measures to protect itself against malicious acts. This mainly concerns the control of people accessing sites and the limitation of access to higher risk areas. Part of this program called « Food Defence » concerns the raising of awareness among employees, the surveillance of dangerous chemicals, a watch on the political and social context, and security alert tests. Introduced this year, this vigilance program, conducted using Extaris, will be deployed across all sites next year.
in short… At the end of 2014 it will concern more than 800 users in France and abroad.
PROGRESS The installation in 2012 of an ultrasound welding system at Soufflet Alimentaire's Valenciennes-based doypack workshop has led to the increased airtightness of packs and to more client satisfaction. Claims for airtightness failures diminished by 14% in 2012-2013.
CREIL
In April 2013 AIT Ingredients was granted the renewal of its IFS Certification (International Food Standard V6) for its Creil site in the Oise department and a positive evaluation for the BRC certification (British Retail Consortium V6), which is necessary to meet the requirements of its British clients.
LABEL
milling
milling
In 2012, due to more and more demand from the animal feed sector, Soufflet Agriculture decided to have its co-product transportation process certified in order to provide its partners with a guarantee on sanitary quality. After an audit on the cleanliness and traceability of its equipment fleet, Soufflet Transports received the Qualimat certification.
Following this study a software package specialised in the management of QSE data was chosen to replace the traditional office tools, which were previously used. The first deployment took place towards the end of the business year on 10 French and Belgian sites belonging to Moulins Soufflet, our pilot-Division on this project.
The Clever project will provide significant improvements: • reliable and standardised reporting, which will ultimately be available for all in a multi-lingual version, • the real-time upward and downward transmission of information and its dematerialised sharing via the Internet allowing for easier consolidation at the Division and Group level, • knowledge capitalisation in a shared and accessible database, • A guarantee for clients, large or small, of optimal follow-up on any claim.
economy
key figure
91.85 out of 100
The average safety grade obtained by the Soufflet Group's 182 sites, audited for the first time based on the new safety standards during the past campaign.
society
The natural environment and out clients are the two key stakeholders of the Soufflet Group's agro-industrial business. The men and women working with us, as well as those connected to us through family, geographic and political ties, constitute a third stakeholder: taking them into account is to give ourselves a more demanding but also more complete approach of our development, while guaranteeing a longer-term future. This is the purpose of a social commitment.
AUDIT Each year Moulins Soufflet conducts an audit on its suppliers, service providers, resellers and subcontractors. Over 30 audits are conducted each year. In 2012-2013 two thirds of these audits (69%) focussed of wheat supplies and the remaining third on ingredients, deep frozen foods, and the transport and storage services.
Sustainable Development Report 2013
17
Ensure the Safety of Goods and Personnel and Preserve the Welfare of Employees
8 benefit
Milling
Centralised Desire for Better Health
Daily contributors to the Soufflet Group's business, people and property must be protected as a priority. Their safety is at the heart of the regularity of our performances.
T
his year, Moulins Soufflet has generalised a technical solution to deal with the risks related to the generation of dust by its business activities. The wheat cleaning, grinding and product packaging processes systematically generate micro-particles, which represent a potential risk of infestation and are a risk factor for explosions.
2,7
3.3
2.7
2.5
indicators
09/10
10/11
11/12
12/13
Average Amount of Work Accidents
11/12
12/13
However, the traditional cleaning of installations by sweeping or proximity vacuum cleaning is a mandatory process both time-consuming and fastidious for production crews. As a consequence, Moulins Soufflet has deployed centralised vacuum cleaning facilities on all its sites. This process
Number of work stoppages versus the number of work accidents Work Accidents Work accidents causing work stoppages ednosti Informacije o bezb
A joint Effort with the IFC In order to support its development in Eastern Europe, Soufflet Agriculture, in collaboration with the IFC (International Finance Corporation : An institution member of the World Bank Group) decided to take part in an improvement process based on the international standards of this organisation in terms of Social and Environmental Responsibility. As a consequence the management team was strengthened with an International QSE coordinator and with correspondents in each country. They are responsible for the management of this transversal project concerning Poland, Russia, Ukraine, Romania and the Czech Republic. Since November 2012, efforts have focussed on three main aspects: an analytical and inventory phase, the structuring of safety management and the implementation of a plan to reduce risks related to dust emissions. The validation of Soufflet Agriculture's CSR action plan by the IFC is an acknowledgement of the quality of its approach.
key figures
Milling
25 kg Programme Since the 2011-2012 campaign, Moulins Soufflet has been trying to ease the handling of wheat bags and to generalise the usage of 25 kg bags. All mixes are already available in this format and the remaining flour references are gradually transitioning to this format. The design of bags is also being reviewed with the aim to obtain a better gripping ability and to generate as little dust as possible when they are opened. A set of recommendations on delivery conditions comes with this change: avoid ladders, prefer slopes to steps, provide non-slippery floors, etc. These arrangements will improve the safety of traditional bakers.
involves giving a centralised network access to all levels of the installations so as to vacuum clean dirty and difficult to reach spots with a simple flexible hose. In this way, the control over dust is ensured and the related risks considerably reduced.
” “Opreznost na delu
Me unarodna organizacija rada
Info Sécurité “Vigilance active”
Moja bezbednost nije igra na sreću… RIZIK, RAZMIŠLJA
M I REAGUJEM
Dan bezbednosti u 28. maj 2013
Grupi Soufflet
Organisation internationale du Travail
Ma sécurité
n’est pas due à la chance… LE RISQUE, J’Y PENSE ET J’AGIS !
Journée sécurité du groupe soufflet 28 mai 2013
18
agriculture
63
103
67
99
for 100 Group employees during the business year
HIGH-TECH Soufflet Alimentaire renews its forklift truck fleet in its warehouse. With a tilting cab, a video camera on the forks, custom settings for the driver and optimised ergonomics, this high-tech equipment provides greater safety and comfort for logistics work.
group
“Safety Day” : For Every-Day Safety
15,609
hours dedicated to safety training in 2012
2,113 people trained on safety in 2012
in short… TV In Ukraine a safety drill conducted with the fire services was filmed and broadcast on a local TV channel. This helped Malteries Soufflet demonstrate its care for the safety of its neighbourhood to populations.
The Soufflet Group's "Safety Day" was held on 28th May 2013. Its aim is to better broadcast a culture of "active vigilance" among the crews on the field. "My safety is not the result of luck" claimed the invitation to the event, during which an assessment of the decrease in work accidents with stoppage within the Group was distributed. The Group's new standards in terms of work at a height were communicated during the event. These aim to increase safety during these interventions, which are potentially dangerous.
Sustainable Development Report 2013
19
9
Transmit and Preserve Social and Ethical Values
benefit
soufflet alimentaire
Because the company is a place for social life and human growth, it is not unconcerned by ethical values: on the contrary, when these values are firm, proven and shared, they ensure the cohesion and energy of the group. And when they are transmitted they help the group look ahead into the future.
Cultivating a Sense of Family
A
s part of the ninth edition of the week dedicated to quality of life at work, France's National Agency for Improved Working Conditions (ANACT) launched the "Live My Work" event, which involves employee pairs swapping jobs for a day within the same company.
INTERNal This year the inter-enterprise committee allowed 1,506 families to take holidays in one of its 61 housing facilities and took 1,383 people on trips to 20 destinations. The children of 189 employees benefited from the Group’s educational program helping them participate in discovery classes for an amount of close to 25,000 €.
company by increasing communication between business lines and fostering family spirit. The ANACT strongly appreciated Soufflet Alimentaire Valenciennes's commitment in this process. Furthermore this know-how exchange was such a success, in-house, on its first edition that the experience was renewed in June 2013 on the same site with new duos.
Soufflet Alimentaire was enthralled by the idea and decided to take on the challenge at its Valenciennes site. The event was organised by the human resources department on 25th October 2012 and was the occasion for 26 people to swap responsibilities for a day. The initiative allowed several people to get to know each other and contributed to building ties within the
1.98%
1.70%
2.13%
2.54%
indicator
09/10
10/11
11/12
12/13
Group
All Together The Soufflet Group’s general staff meeting took place in Marne-la-Vallée towards the end of September 2012. This important meeting, scheduled every two years, brought together 1,953 employees for its plenary session and 935 spouses for the dinner and dancing party. At this occasion, Jean-Michel Soufflet, Chairman of the Board, reminded all of the key events in the Group's recent development, hosted the employees of recently acquired companies and reviewed the performances of each Division inviting each and every one to continue their work with passion and professionalism in the enabling environment of a family business.
Payroll ratio dedicated to training during the year
key figures
+125.8%
Growth, over three years, of the number of individual interviews with managers
+226.1%
Growth, over three years, of the number of individual interviews with supervisors
20
HR
Collective Agreements As encouraged by law, the Soufflet Group has developed a plan for equality between men and women at work, which was signed in June 2012. It started to be implemented during the last business year. In the same way, a plan to prevent hardship at work was finalised in each of the Group's entities: the plan foresees optimisation actions for various work positions depending on the risk thresholds identified for each of them. Finally the Soufflet Group took the initiative, producing a plan to protect employees against psychological risks related to work. The plan focussed primarily on the training of managers and the set-up of feedback alerts.
in short… WELCOME The successful integration of new employees is a strong focus of Moulins Soufflet's Human Resources policy. A survey conducted in early 2013 evaluated the action plan that had been conducted over the past two years and highlighted the high level of welcoming, training and support for new-comers in the Division. GUIDE In view of adopting a healthy and blameless approach to competition, the Soufflet Group's management published and circulated a practical guide on the matter with 850 of the Group's managers and sales people in November 2012. A Competition point person was also designed and a training and awareness-raising program was deployed in 2013. rÈGLes De CoNCurreNCe et LoYauté DaNs Les reLatioNs D’aFFaires Recommandations pratiques
© ETS J SOUFFLET – Direction juridique Programme de conformité au droit de la concurrence - 2012
www.soufflet.com
Sustainable Development Report 2013
21
10
Strengthen Ties with the Socio-economic Environment
benefit
group
New Governance
The good integration of a firm in its social, economic and political environment is a way to face its responsibilities in a broad, full and connected manner.
key figures
1.8 ME
contributions paid out to various professional organisations
13.2 ME
the Soufflet Group's annual contribution to the local economic life through the intermediary of real estate taxes and the Territorial Economic Contribution (CET).
I
n the spring of 2012, the Soufflet Group decided to strengthen its governance mode in order to support its international development and to help cope with developments in the markets. In the end of May, Jean-Michel Soufflet announced to all employees the creation of an Executive Committee (COMEX) for the Group. Its missions will be to manage the Group’s policies, optimise its organisation, and ensure the short term implementation of goals set by the management board. Operational at the start of the new business year and chaired by Jean-Michel Soufflet this COMEX is composed of eight other members: • four operational managers: Jean-François Lépy, Head of Trading ; Christophe Passelande, Head of Malting; Éric Roos, Head of Milling ; Didier Thierry, Head of Agriculture. • four functional managers: Arnaud Bécard, Head of Administration, Organisation and Information Systems; Benoît Ferrari, Head of Management Control ; Georges Cohen-Adad, General Secretary ; Xavier Rossignol, Head of Human and Social Relations.
ensures the creation of effective links between field action and ambition for the future.
Group
Web 2.0 Aware of the growing importance of the web in economic activity, the Soufflet Group's Marketing Management has set a new course for its digital ecosystem in order to direct it towards client service and commercial development. Several e-commerce sites were launched at the end of 2012 followed by the go-live of a new Extranet for farmer clients in April 2013 and the full overhaul of the Group's corporate website.
In collaboration with the Management Board, which continues to set the Soufflet Group's main strategic guidelines, and the Supervisory Board that controls and monitors it, the COMEX completes the Group's governance model and
group
New CSR Organisation The organisation of the Soufflet Group's Human Relations department was strengthened in the spring of 2013 by the integration of a social relations component leading it to change its name to Human and Social Relations Department. The management of the department was entrusted to Xavier ROSSIGNOL, formerly Chief Operations Officer. Since 1st July 2013 the department includes a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) component under the responsibility of Bruno COTHENET (photo), who spent a large portion of his career in the Malting Division, and this mostly abroad. This new Management Department regroups Sustainable Development and Quality / Safety / Environment (QSE) showing the Group's broad ambition to fully take on its stature and role in society
22
MALTING & MILLING
Evaluations Turned Towards Ethics
T
he Malting Division joined the ECOVADIS website in order to share all its CSR-related commitments with its clients. An Ethics audit was conducted under the SMETA standards of the SEDEX association on the Brazey-en-Plaine site, following a request by a brewing client in May 2013. This audit, focussing on the respect of work legislation and human relations within the firm, helped showcase the high quality of Human Resources as well as of the factory's management. This type of audit had also been conducted during the previous year (April 2012) by the Milling Division at the Pornic, Saint Genest and Corbeil mills. Other mills will also be audited under the same standards during the upcoming business year.
Sustainable Development Report 2013
in short… EXPORTs The MOCI classification (International Trade Monitor), made public in January 2013, shows the Soufflet Group's positive contribution to the French trade balance. With a turnover of 1.436 billion Euros for exports the Soufflet Group is France's 10th largest exporter and reaches the second place for exports in the agrifood industry. DISABLED In Valenciennes, Soufflet Alimentaire has pursued its approach of disability at work beyond legal obligations. With the help of AGEFIPH the Division has improved its ability to accepted people with disabilities and currently welcomes nine among its staff. On its Polisy site, after significant efforts, the Malteries Soufflet team was able to reintegrate a staff member hit by 2 stokes although he could have been deemed unfit to work. 23
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