To ensure a responsible value chain, HKScan Group is strongly committed to promoting more responsibly produced soy. Through the commitment, HKScan ensures that by the end of 2018 all soy used in its meat value chain will meet the strict requirements set by either RTRS (Round Table on Responsible Soy) or ProTerra.
“Soy is an important source of protein in animal feed also in our home markets. We see our commitment to responsible soy as a significant element of sustainable food production. It supports us in ensuring that the entire value chain from animal feed to the consumer’s plate is environmentally and socially sustainable,” says Vera Söderberg, Corporate Responsibility Manager at HKScan.
HKScan Sweden scores excellently in WWF Soy Scorecard – work continues in all countries
WWF has assessed the performance of 133 European companies on their use of responsible soy in the animal feed used to produce their meat, eggs and dairy products. The results have been stated in WWF Soy Scorecard. HKScan Sweden has reached an excellent score in the assessment – 22 points out of 24, and is said to be “leading the way”. The HKScan Group as a whole scored 14 points, and is “well on the path” on the journey to responsible soy according to WWF.
HKScan is working determined in all its home markets to fulfil its commitment. Yearly plans are prepared for each country to ensure the most effective way of proceeding, partly based on cooperation with national feed producers.
“Already today we make sure that responsible soy is used in our value chain although the share of it varies from country to country,” says Söderberg.
In Sweden, where HKScan is also a member of the Swedish Soy Dialogue network (Svenska Sojadialogen), the company reached its target in 2015; all of the soy used in the value chain of HKScan Sweden's products is certified according to either RTRS or ProTerra criteria.
“In Denmark, the share of certified soy in animal feed corresponded to 18 per cent of the production volume in 2015. Also in Finland we have continued to make progress, and recently became members of the Finnish soy commitment,” continues Söderberg.
Contributing to responsible soy development
The use of responsible soy meets various stakeholders’ expectations of high standards of ethical responsibility throughout the entire meat value chain.
Soy is one of the world’s most widely cultivated crops today. It is used both as an ingredient in many foodstuffs as well as a component in livestock feed in the meat industry.
The continual expansion of conventional soy cultivation can have considerable environmental impacts particularly in South America. These include deforestation, increased greenhouse gas emissions, depletion of biodiversity and soil erosion. Soy farming is also reported to be associated with social problems such as deprivation of land from local farmers and remuneration of workers below minimum wages.
HKScan is one of the largest meat producers in Northern Europe, and its membership in and commitment to Round Table on Responsible Soy (RTRS) will substantially contribute to responsible soy development in Europe.
For further information:
Vera Söderberg, Corporate Responsibility Manager, Environment
firstname.surname@hkscan.com, tel. +46 8 725 8347
HKScan is the leading Nordic meat expert. We sell, market and produce high-quality, responsibly-produced pork, beef, poultry and lamb products, processed meats and convenience foods under strong brand names. Our customers are the retail, food service, industrial and export sectors, and our home markets comprise Finland, Sweden, Denmark and the Baltics. We export to close to 50 countries. In 2015, HKScan had net sales of approximately EUR 1.9 billion and some 7400 employees. www.hkscan.com