EcoVadis Silver for VOG Products
Sustainability is firmly embedded in VOG Products’ strategy and is actively implemented throughout the production process. This was also confirmed by EcoVadis, the world’s most reliable provider of sustainability ratings for global supply chains, which rewarded the efforts of VOG Products with a silver medal. The silver status means that VOG Products is among the top 25 per cent of all companies rated.
Sustainability is firmly anchored in the VOG Products strategy. A prestigious award now confirms that sustainability issues are actively implemented throughout the entire production process: EcoVadis, the world's most trusted provider of sustainability assessments for global supply chains, rewarded VOG Products' efforts with a silver medal.
"We are proud and happy about this recognition, which is also an important signal for our customers and consumers: We offer safe, sustainable and high-quality products," emphasises Christoph Tappeiner, Director of VOG Products. With the silver status, VOG Products is among the top 25 percent of the companies rated. The EcoVadis rating includes environmental aspects as well as employment and human rights, ethics and sustainable procurement. "The silver medal is an incentive for us to keep on improving," says Tappeiner.
Two years ago, VOG Products completed the GLOBAL G.A.P. Farm Sustainability Assessment with the FSA Gold Label, and has undertaken further steps to improve on sustainability topics. Among other things, VOG Products invested in the continuous expansion of its in-house photovoltaic system and obtains 100 percent of its electricity from renewable sources.“We have calculated our corporate carbon footprint and review it annually. This allows us to take targeted measures to increase energy efficiency and reduce CO2 emissions,” explains Tappeiner.
From the field to processing: Saving water on all levels
VOG Products sets a special focus on water: With the “Cooling Water Optimisation” project, it will be possible to save as much water as 15,000 people use in one year – by using water twice as cooling water and as transport water.
However, water savings do not only take place on the plant in Laives, but also in the supply chain of VOG Products. "We are closely connected to the South Tyrolean fruit growers and cooperatives - our members are the suppliers of our raw materials," emphasises Tappeiner.
For example, in cooperation with the South Tyrolean Advisory Board for Fruit and Viticulture (Südtiroler Beratungsring für Obst- und Weinbau), the Laimburg Research Centre developed "Smart Land", a system that uses high-quality sensor technology to measure soil moisture in the field and links it to current weather and temperature data. The data is transmitted in real time to the farmer via a wireless network and an app, and the farmer can control the irrigation of the orchards as needed and achieve water savings of up to 50 percent.