Sustainability

Gemüsering goes zero

Pioneers when it comes to climate neutrality

Gemüsering Stuttgart is the first company in the ‘fresh vegetables and fruit’ sector committed to consistently pursuing climate neutrality at its own site and along the supply chain.

Participation in the “ZNU goes zero” programme

The Centre for Sustainable Leadership at Witten/Herdecke University (ZNU for short) emphasises the pioneering role of Gemüsering in the field of ‘sustainable management’. Here, we pursue the goal of continuously reducing emissions; unavoidable emissions are offset via compensation programmes at company or product level together with ‘Plant for the Planet’ and ‘Climate without Borders’. Beside this, more than 21,000 trees have been planted since 2019 together with ‘Plant for the Planet’ as compensation for emissions at company level in order to sequester CO2 in the long term. Certified according to the ZNU standard since 2017, we are subject to neutrality monitoring. We always take the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into account in our corporate decisions.

Further information on the compensation programmes:

Sustainable management

Our guidelines

Conserve resources

We use resources responsibly. For example, we use modern irrigation techniques for water-conserving cultivation, regularly modernise our storage locations and use the waste heat from our greenhouse operations.

Strengthen team spirit

We encourage personal responsibility and team spirit. Team events such as football tournaments or team excursions strengthen our team spirit and sense of cohesion outside the office.

Work in partnership

We stand for reliable and cooperative partnership and, together with our partners, continuously develop solutions for the successful production and marketing of fresh fruit and vegetables.

Fair treatment

We act fairly along the entire value chain. We value sustainable agricultural management, e.g. with a well thought-out crop rotation schedule, careful use of resources and measures to promote biodiversity.

Sustainable management

Goals and achievements

 

ENVIRONMENT
100% green electricity: Following the conversion at the first seven locations, which began in 2019, 14 locations in Germany have been using green electricity since the end of 2021 – with a further 13 locations set to follow in 2022. We are also upping our investment in photovoltaic systems at our locations, whose generated electricity is used in-house.

ENVIRONMENT

CO2-neutral
Besides Gemüsering Stuttgart, TOGAZ locations and Gemüsering Thüringen now also operate on a CO2-neutral basis as part of ‘ZNU goes Zero’.
In tomato and carrot production, five products from CO2-neutral production were also distributed in 2021.

ENVIRONMENT

In 2020 and 2021, the flowering areas were first expanded to 20 hectares and finally to 27.6 hectares. As our flowering area offer is very popular with farms, we are increasing our target from 30 to 50 hectares of flowering areas by 2025.

ENVIRONMENT

–24% entry consumption
Reduction of total energy consumption by 24% (2016 to 2020).

 

ENVIRONMENT

100% certified
In 2019, 100%* of products came from controlled and certified farms (*except for non-certifiable products such as wild garlic).

ENVIRONMENT

3,000 samples
Every year the Gemüsering group carries out over 3,000 internal plant protection product and microbiology samples.

SOCIAL

Implementation of 75% of the employee suggestions
Including things such as employee-initiated team events to strengthen team spirit.

SOCIAL

Home office
Expansion of the home office opportunities in the marketing, quality management and human resources departments, as well as for employees in other sectors.

SOCIAL

Three Bachelor’s/Master’s theses were successfully mentored at the University of Hohenheim and at the Baden-Württemberg Cooperative State University in 2001. We are also supporting two research projects at the IVV and ZNU: FreshInPac and BioVal. Both the mentoring of student research projects and cooperation with colleges and universities are to be continued and expanded in the future.

SOCIAL

Tafel Baden-Württemberg
We support the Swabian food banks in avoiding food waste by providing high quality goods that are distributed to the socially and economically disadvantaged.

ECONOMY

The majority of our products are distributed as private labels; only a few are packaged in-house. With the exception of cups and trays made of PET, all packaging can be recycled well or very well. Overall, we are paying more attention to eliminating plastic – or, where possible, doing without packaging altogether.

Gemüsering

ZNU-certified

The ZNU standard for sustainable management allows Gemüsering to make an active and measurable contribution to sustainable changes in the economy and society step-by-step.

1.

certified company in the fruit+veg sector

14

Gemüsering locations already certified

16

Gemüsering locations certified by the end of 2022

18

Gemüsering locations planned by 2023

Organic agriculture is important to us

Gemüsering has been organically certified for over 10 years and produces and markets organic fruit and vegetables with passion.

Inspection body DE-ÖKO-060

Interview

Sustainability at Gemüsering

Sustainability has been practised in the company for years. In a short interview, our sustainability officer, Dr Thorsten Strissel reveals what tasks and challenges he faces when it comes to this important topic.

Go to interview
Nachhaltigkeit beim Gemüsering: Nachhaltigkeitsbeauftragter Dr. Thorsten Strissel im Interview

CREATING THE FUTURE!

Avoiding food waste

We love to appreciate the value of people and nature. For that reason, we’re keen to take part in various initiatives that help to reduce food waste. Fruit and vegetables that fail to meet requirements and standards can thus find an alternative route to our plates. For example, Schwäbische Tafel e.V. drops in at our cold storage facility every day and picks up ‘surplus goods’ for its food banks in the region. At etepetete, end consumers can order bio-boxes filled with different combinations of goods. We are also happy to support our customers’ concepts and supply them with ‘B-goods’ for their sustainable labels, such as ‘Die etwas anderen’ or ‘Krumme Dinger’.

 

Gemüsering unterstützt das Schulfruchtprogramm Baden-Württembergs

For an extra portion of fruit and vegetables

As part of the EU school programme, we supply schools with fresh, locally grown fruit and vegetables. This gives the children a taste of these fresh foods and allows them to learn at an early age how to integrate them into their everyday diet. Through the educational support of the programme, children learn more about where the food comes from, the variety of products and how to eat a balanced diet. They also improve important food skills.

Find out more

Modern tomato cultivation

The greenhouse in Zorbau draws its energy from a microgrid network, making it a pioneer in Germany. Microgrids are self-sufficient sufficient island networks that do not burden the public power grid – therefore becoming increasingly important for the energy transition. In 2020, we set up a full LED lighting system for our cultivational processes. Thanks to this, we have been able to reduce energy consumption by approx. 25%, compared to conventional lighting systems. Also in 2020, we avoided producing 1,326 tonnes of CO2 emissions, by using 100% green electricity at all Gemüsering Group locations.

Ressource-saving cultivation

Together with Rheinlandgemüse Hydro, we are setting a new hydroponic greenhouse facility into operation for resource-saving lettuce cultivation. Cultivating lettuces in a closed system saves 70% water compared to outdoor production and also eliminates all types of soil contamination.

FORWARD-LOOKING

RESEARCH FOR THE FUTURE

In collaboration with the Weihenstephan-Triesdorf University of Applied Sciences (HSWT), a vertical farming container provided by Gemüsering is being used to scientifically support indoor farming as part of various projects. The Weihenstephan-Triesdorf University of Applied Sciences has received a Growtainer for research and training purposes. The HSWT researches, among other things, product quality and resource efficiency in plant production in indoor farming systems”.

Find out more

Renewable energy for production

 

Gemüsering already uses many existing roof areas to generate energy at almost all of our production sites. The electricity from the photovoltaic systems at the Friedrichskoog location covers 15% of the requirements to operate the cold-storage rooms and is fed in directly. This produces savings of around 50 tonnes of CO₂. Ideal conditions near to the North Sea coast make the operation of our own wind power plants efficient and ensure energy supply, even during the darker months of the year.

 

Green Energy solar park

Green Energy, the affiliate of the Gemüsering Group, operates photovoltaic systems in Germany. Through large-scale solar panel installations on open fields as well as on many roofs of Gemüsering’s production and marketing buildings, Green Energy produces solar energy which is not only used for its own needs but is also fed into the public grid.

Quality based on conviction

Quality management starts with the supervision of production in the field and extends to answering enquiries from end consumers – for example, regarding optimal storage of the products after purchase. It supports our producers and suppliers in choosing suitable varieties and helps them with questions about certifications; it evaluates the goods during incoming and outgoing procedures, and tests their shelf life and optimal packaging. These activities are aimed at maintaining quality in terms of appearance and taste – from the harvested product through to the end consumer.

Quality rule #1

Be active rather than reactive

Be active rather than reactive – The quality management team at Gemüsering relies on the early detection of the latest developments in order to actively counteract production if necessary and to ensure legal security for all those involved in the supply chain. We consider product security in every respect an obligation.

Quality rule #2

Quality management

Quality management is an integral part of our corporate philosophy that is constantly evolving. It starts with the supervision of production in the field and extends to answering enquiries from end consumers. It supports our producers and suppliers in choosing suitable varieties and helps them with questions about certifications; it evaluates the goods during incoming and outgoing procedures, and tests their shelf life and optimal packaging. These activities are aimed at maintaining quality in terms of appearance and taste – from the harvested product through to the end consumer.

Quality rule #3

Share experience

In order to ensure the high quality of our products, we meet the standards of certifications required by the trade. We actively incorporate our experience from production, marketing and trade to the various committees of QS Qualität und Sicherheit GmbH, GlobalG.A.P., the DFHV, the Regionalfenster e. V. or product advisory boards.

Gemüsering Qualitätsmanagement-Regeln und Kontrollen für höchste Produktqualität

Qualität rule #4

Responsible use of resources

The activities of our company are aimed at the long-term conservation of essential resources. The focus is on different areas, depending on the growing region. These include the use of renewable energies in production and storage locations, as well as measures to reduce energy consumption or the sustainable use of water and measures to promote biodiversity.

Gemüsering Qualitätsmanagement-Regeln und Kontrollen für den schonungsvollen Umgang mit Ressourcen

Quality rule #5

Support the natural balance

When dealing with any questions relating to sustainability, a dialogue must be established between everyone involved in order to strive for a balance of ecological, social and economic aspects. It is only through cooperation along the supply chain that further developments can be made in all areas such as production, logistics and society.

Memberships

The activities of our employees in quality management include: membership in the national technical working groups of GlobalG.A.P, in the SHC GRASP at GlobalG.A.P, on the QS Qualität und Sicherheit GmbH advisory board, in various work groups of QS Qualität und Sicherheit GmbH, and participation in the product advisory council of the state of Baden-Württemberg, as well as Regionalfenster board membership.

Certifications

In order to ensure the high quality of our products, we meet the standards of certifications required by the trade. We actively incorporate our experience from production, marketing and trade into the various committees of QS Qualität und Sicherheit GmbH, GlobalG.A.P., the DFHV, the Regionalfenster e. V. or product advisory boards.

Contact

Gemüsering Stuttgart GmbH
Langwiesenweg 30 (Großmarkt)
70327 Stuttgart

Tel.  (+49) 711 / 16865 0
Fax  (+49) 711 / 16865 99

Email info@gemuesering.de

Contact person