Climate protection is the most pressing common task of our time. Our milk formulas are already climate neutral and we continue to work on avoiding and reducing CO2 emissions to become climate positive, thus taking an important step towards securing a future worth living for our grandchildren. We use resources carefully – the biodynamic method of farming is particularly effective for ensuring their sparing use – and optimise our water and energy consumption.
As a manufacturer of baby food, we are deeply aware of our responsibility towards our little ones and their future. Climate protection is one of our most urgent challenges. Through our products and the way in which we work, we want to contribute to this.
We make the world greener together
We pursue our sustainable path in the knowledge that we need to do even more to achieve the goal of the Paris Agreement to limit global warming to 1.5°C. We dedicate constant efforts to minimising our Co2e footprint and making more products climate positive.
What does climate positive mean?
In this context we offset more climate-killing greenhouse gases in the relevant areas than we generate across all our raw materials, production and supply chains, from store shelves to product disposal. A plus for our climate.
Climate statements on Holle packaging
In November 2021 Holle provided information on its climate positive credentials for the first time. Parallel to this, the first Holle products with a climate positive logo appeared on store shelves, with more rolled out as time went on. For many years now we have been calculating the Co2e footprint of our products and working to reduce it. Compensation for unavoidable emissions is an important part of this and we firmly believe that meaningful compensation projects need to be supported if we are to achieve climate goals.
Criticism of so-called ‘green claims’, such as climate positive credentials, is something which we take very seriously. We have learned that this topic is so complex that it cannot be explained clearly and understandably on product packaging. In the interests of transparent product communications and to avoid confusing consumers, we decided back in January 2023 to remove the climate positive logo from all Holle packaging. Avoiding the disposal of unnecessary packaging is important to us, so this logo will be gradually phased out as we reprint packaging for the relevant products. Depending on sales of individual products, it could take up to a year after the packaging changeover (i.e. reprinting of packaging without a climate positive logo) until the climate positive logo has disappeared from Holle products on store shelves.
We will, however, continue to support our projects to protect the environment and resources. Holle follows global and legal developments very carefully and we are continuously updating our measures accordingly, also on this website.
Climate protection through biodynamic farming
One of the main pillars of our sustainability strategy is biodynamic farming. Holle is a Demeter pioneer in the manufacture of baby food. The majority of our products feature the Demeter label. Demeter agriculture stands for biodynamic farming in a closed loop in which each step makes a meaningful contribution to the next.
For the soil, this guarantees that it stays healthy – through biodynamic farming, more biomass penetrates it, encouraging the formation of humus and the improved retention of water and nutrients. In turn, healthy soil is capable of binding greenhouse gases in the long term, which is why biodynamic agriculture is so important for the climate.
Our diverse projects
In addition to reducing and avoiding greenhouse gases, regional projects to lower levels (Germany) are an important element of climate protection. We are also involved in an extensive range of projects with various partners.
At the Gut Döllnitz farm in Halle and the Frankenhof farm in Heilsbronn (both in Germany), we are reducing greenhouse gases and supporting the
formation of valuable humus.
We work together with our logistics partner to assume responsibility.
We are dedicated to constant improvement and are always on the lookout for even better solutions concerning waste prevention and resource conservation. We work closely with our suppliers in this area.
High recyclability and FSC certification
We make most of our Holle packaging from solid cardboard with a high proportion of 85 to 95% recycled paper which, in turn, is completely recyclable. The majority of our folding boxes are FSC certified.
What does ‘FSC certified’ mean?
FSC stands for the Forest Stewardship Council®, an international certification system for more sustainable forestry. Raw materials for wood and paper products that carry this seal come from forests that are managed responsibly and sustainably.
Aluminium-free pouches
Our pouches are free from aluminium foil. The fruit purées are contained in three-layer packaging made of paper, PET and PE. These layers have a crucial function, serving as a barrier that protects our high-quality organic product from contamination and pollution.
Product safety and quality are our foremost priority, which is why we are not yet able to replace this type of packaging. The environmental compatibility of single-use packaging is the subject of regular debate in scientific circles. According to a study carried out by the independent Institute for Energy and Environmental Research (IFEU), pouches have a similar life cycle assessment to glass. This also includes transport considerations – with the lightweight film pouches, more content is transported than packaging.
Our yoghurt pouches are one example of a more environmentally packaging solution through the conversion to a recyclable polypropylene material. It is easy to sort in terms of waste separation and can therefore be fully returned to the recycling loop.
Holle baby food AG
Lörracherstrasse 50
4125 Riehen
Switzerland
Holle Europe GmbH
Berner Weg 23
79539 Lörrach
Germany
Contact
Tel.: +41 (0)61 555 07 00
E-Mail: babyfood@holle.ch
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