HKScan is the largest producer of beef, chicken, poultry and pork in the Nordic region and hopes to reach its energy reduction targets by 2017. The Nordic supplier of high-quality, ethically-sourced products will carry out the new initiative in conjunction with existing company measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
HKScan CEO Hannu Kottonen stressed the company’s commitment to environmental sustainability, saying: "We continuously improve our processes to enhance our energy efficiency. By doing so, we are able to reduce emissions from our own processes and, at the same time, decrease our energy-related costs."
Investment key to energy cut
Plans for reducing energy usage have yet to be finalised, but it is believed installation of heat pumps and upgrading existing cooling systems are some of the methods under consideration.
"We are also investing in control systems and in equipment that is more energy-efficient and modern," explained project manager Vera Söderberg, who is working with HKScan’s Energy Efficiency project.
Energy efficiency and environmental sustainability go hand in hand for the company; it prides itself on producing ethically-sourced meat, while simultaneously cutting its global carbon footprint.
Energy reduction 'profitable'
These new plans fall within the company’s corporate social responsibility programme. Discussing the plan in detail, Söderberg added: "This is one more way to reduce energy-related costs because many options based on renewable energy sources – options like district heating and steam, and the use of biogas – are profitable both in the short- and long run."
It has not been announced when in 2017 HKScan is likely to meet its energy reduction targets. No one from the company was able to comment.
The Nordic giant exports a selection of produce, processed meats and convenience food to nearly 50 countries and, according to HKScan data, it employs 7,700 staff and billed nearly €2bn (£1.4bn) after tax in 2014.