Kindness is in our nature, be it to customers, colleagues or the world around us. And because we want to be just as kind to future generations, “We have made sustainability a goal in and of itself”, says quality manager Jaco Scheurwater.
One does not change the animal feed ingredient industry overnight, especially because the margins in our industry are so small. Jaco: “If we are to make significant strides, someone will have to pay the price. We hope to make a contribution with our pilot projects, innovations and other initiatives, but we know it won’t be easy: you can only green the chain one step at a time.”
Actually solving a problem can be tough for an trader,but that does not mean that Groan does not have a significant role to play. “We are committed to taking our responsibility, because if you want to change the world, you have to start with yourself”, Jaco explains. “We could draw up rules for our carriers and suppliers, for example, and have already equipped our own storage and transshipment centre with solar panels and electric cranes, as well as providing detailed advice to our customers. After all, raw material selection is critical for compound feed factories.”
Raw material selection is critical for compound feed factories
“We always explain in great detail what sets different raw materials apart”, Jaco points out. “Did you know that the carbon emissions of a tonne of soy from country A could be 7 times higher than the same tonne of soy from country B? And yet customers often choose the first option for price options. It’s understandable, but we prefer doing things differently. By entering into special partnerships, we want to bring about change. Even if that means taking things one step at a time.”
