Being and remaining a leader and pioneer in the field of sustainability, Interview - Food Inspiration Magazine

Category: Sustainability

Stijn Baan: ‘We are going to neutralise 125% of our CO2 emissions’ - Koppert Cress wants to be and remain a leader and pioneer in the field of sustainability.

In the past, farmers and market gardeners grew their own crops, which they then sold themselves in the village. Now there are many more links between the producer and the end user. Baan: ‘Horticulture has become so efficient because for a long time they didn't have to worry about the user. It was a matter of producing, delivering to the auction, and then it was done. In doing so, farmers and gardeners have relinquished a lot of power.’

‘We won't make it with just non-binding climate ambitions from companies.’

"At Koppert Cress, we have opted for a different market approach, which means we have much more interaction with our customers. Firstly, because we have chosen the B2B food service market and secondly because we have built up a brand. We do not deliver directly. What is unique about our supply chain is that we produce for around 80 customers. These are all the major fruit and vegetable traders in the Netherlands. They sell our products to catering wholesalers, and ultimately they end up with the chef in the restaurant. Through these traders, we supply the Dutch market, but also internationally. What is harvested this morning is on its way to Groningen, Italy or Dubai this afternoon. We are one of the few horticultural companies that have established a recognisable brand in the market with a focus on quality and added value. This enables us to operate with a healthy margin. And that in a sector where value creation is the biggest challenge."

Climate positive by 2026

Sustainability has been a central theme at Koppert Cress for many years. Baan: "In 2023, our carbon footprint amounted to over 23,000 tonnes of CO2eq (Scope 1, 2 and 3). We have made a commitment to be climate positive per 2026. This means that from that moment on, we will neutralise 125% of our emissions, or in other words: capture our CO₂ in the soil to offset our emissions. It pays for us to reduce as much of our CO2 emissions as possible, because neutralisation costs money. So we are fully committed to making our packaging more sustainable and reducing our energy consumption."

No government agency is requiring companies to become climate positive, but Baan is in a hurry. ‘We won't make it with only non-binding climate ambitions from companies for 2030 and 2040. That's why we also founded the innovation company Division Q, to accelerate our own sustainability ambitions and those of the sector.’

Emissions steps and targets Koppert Cress

  • Since 2011, Koppert Cress has been using heat and cold storage at its main location.
  • On average, this saves approximately 400,000 m³ of gas per year, which is equivalent to the annual consumption of 359 households and 710 tonnes of CO2 emissions.
  • Koppert Cress purchases all its electricity from guaranteed green sources.
  • In 2025, Koppert Cress will be connected to geothermal energy. This will reduce annual gas consumption by 2,500,000 m³ of gas, equivalent to almost 2,400 households.
  • In the course of 2025, Koppert Cress will switch entirely to rainwater. This will save an annual amount of more than 58,000 m³ of tap water. This is equivalent to the consumption of more than 830 households.
  • In 2026, Koppert Cress's Scope 1 and 2 emissions will be zero. This includes the ambition to no longer use fossil fuels.
  • In 2026, Koppert Cress's Scope 3 emissions will be reduced by 45% compared to 2022.
  • By 2036, KC's Scope 3 emissions will be reduced by 90% compared to 2022.
  • In 2026, all remaining CO2 emissions for the year in question will be neutralised (125%) through the purchase of Carbon Offsets. As a result, Koppert Cress will capture more CO₂ than it emits, allowing the company to call itself climate positive. Carbon Offsets are preferably purchased in projects where there is a substantive connection; those that are literally or figuratively “close” to the company's activities. Think of carbon sequestration in seed cultivation or green hydrogen projects.

Let’s change the way we look at food

Health is an important theme for Koppert Cress. Many scientific studies have now been published proving the health benefits of eating more vegetables. Even a small daily amount of cress has been proven to be healthy. "Nevertheless, we do not explicitly market our cress as “healthy”. It is also less relevant to our customers: guests do not go out to eat to become healthy.‘

’Our story is bigger than our cresses‘

’We are ambassadors for plants. Our mission is: “Let's change the way we look at food”. When we welcome chefs to our premises or organise tastings at trade fairs, we can really teach food professionals something new about nutrition. Once you've had a cressperience, tasting 20 different plants and chewing on that crazy yellow flower (Sichuan flower bud), you'll never forget it. After a tasting like that, you'll look at the culinary potential of plants differently forever. That's the first step in changing behaviour."

‘But our story is bigger than our cresses. We challenge chefs to cook more with plants. They are often not used to this. Any chef can prepare a piece of wagyu, but creating a beautiful vegetable dish requires creativity. By focusing more on vegetables, cresses and edible flowers, chefs can expand the arsenal of ingredients at their disposal.’

SOURCE: Food Inspiration Magazine

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