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Our link with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs
At Ardo, we align our ambitions with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations, a set of 17 global development goals agreed upon by UN member states in 2015. To achieve these goals for a fairer and better world by 2030, we take responsibility for all the ways our fresh frozen vegetables, fruit and herbs are grown and used.
While we aim to contribute to all SDGs, we prioritise those where Ardo can make a substantial difference or provide added value. To identify the most relevant SDGs for Ardo, we first examined the suggested SDGs mentioned in Ardo’s previous corporate social responsibility report. We then described the most important aspects of each SDG based on UN documents and searched for relevant activities within Ardo. We considered the SDG to be relevant when the aspects and activities matched.
Our approach is explained in the tables below.
To contribute to the UN goal of achieving a fairer and better world by 2030, we focus on 8 SDGs:
SDG Description Ardo's activities
2.1 Ensure access to safe, nutritious and sufficient food all year round, in particular to the poor and people in vulnerable situations
2.4 Ensure sustainable food production, systems and implement agricultural practices, resilient to climate change
6. Ensure availability and sustainable management of water use
7.2 Increase the share of renewable energy Gifts to food banks in Belgium: • 19-20: 21,452 kg • 20-21: 134,662 kg • 21-22: 25,848 kg
MIMOSA+
• Re-use of treated wastewater, rainwater for cleaning and irrigation in Ardooie, Koolskamp, Geer, etc. • Crops will be subjected to water risk assessments • Water used to irrigate our crops will come from renewable sources • Irrigation activities will be based on crop needs or soil moisture deficit measurements
Investment in renewable energy systems
7.3 Reducing the energy used by increasing efficiency Innovation for energy efficiency & recovery
8.4 Improve resource efficiency
• Waste prevention in the fields: ending the use of non-biodegradable plastic mulching in all crops by 2025 • Waste prevention in the production: reducing thickness of packaging film, replacing non-recyclable packaging, switching from white to brown recycled carton 8.5 Decent work for all & equal pay Fair wage - Occupational health & wellbeing 8.8 Protect labour rights & promote safe and secure working environments Promote occupational safety 9. Industrial policy to build resilient infrastructure, promote sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation Innovation on several tracks: • product development • precision agriculture • business processes
12.2 More efficient use of natural resources
12.4 Minimise adverse impacts of chemicals & other wastes on human health and the environment Optimising the use of natural resources through our circular economy model
Maximising our production of residue-free products
12.5 Reduce waste generation
12.6 Sustainable reporting cycle 13.2 Integrate climate change measures into strategies and planning
15. Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems and protect biodiversity and natural habitats • Buffering sites form neighbourhoods • Valorisation of by-products
Measuring carbon footprint and setting emission reduction targets
• Biodiversity projects • Regenerative agricultural practices
