The world’s largest food ingredients supplier was recognised at the European Chemical Industry Council’s (CEFIC) European Responsible Care Awards for its sustainability work between 2011 and 2015.
DSM said this included “reducing emissions and non-hazardous landfill waste and improving energy efficiency and waste use.”
Projects included using nutrient-rich sludge in land restoration and agriculture and reducing landfill.
“Low cost leak repairs plus jettisoning redundant equipment cut air compressors units needed by half to one, reducing electrical demand,” the judges said, adding: “The holistic, ambitious grassroots housekeeping illuminated by an excellent presentation swung the panel.”
CEFIC said the environment award rewarded projects that use resources efficiently and “that demonstrate excellence in environmental processes and products over their life cycles to avoid harm to people and the environment by reducing their on-site emissions to air, water and soil and to limit environmental hazards related to their operations through the development of innovative technology.”
All entries to the awards can be found here.
The judges were:
- Alexandre Affre, Director Industrial Affairs, Business Europe;
- Pierre Coërs, HSE Sustainability Stakeholders Relations, SOLVAY SA (2013 Responsible Care Award winner);
- Nigel Davis, Insight Editor, ICIS;
- Simon Minett, Managing Director, Challoch Energy
DSM previously manufactured all its vitamin C at its Scottish facility (which also manufactures vitamin B5) but last year bought Chinese supplier Aland. It is estimated China supplies 80%+ of the world’s vitamin C typically used in food, supplements, cosmetics and feed.