Koppert Cress will become climate positive in 2026

Climate positive?

Starting in 2026, Koppert Cress will be climate positive. By investing in emission reduction for years and transitioning to fossil-free energy via geothermal power, we are reducing our direct emissions to zero. We will offset the remaining emissions by 125%, meaning we will remove more CO₂ from the atmosphere than we emit.

For many companies, climate neutrality sounds like the end goal, but we are consciously choosing the climate-positive path. That is certainly not the easiest option, but we believe that as a company and as an industry, we must dare to look ahead.

Reducing our CO₂ emissions remains our top priority. In this way, we are gradually reducing our impact on the climate. We cannot achieve this transition overnight; it requires time, investment, and continuous improvement. At the same time, we are already taking concrete and meaningful steps today to reduce our emmisions and further lower our climate impact.

So how exactly does this work?

At the start of each year, we make a CO₂ emissions forecast based on real-time data and expected business activities. We multiply the figure from this forecast by 1.25. This tells us how much CO₂ we need to remove from the air to achieve our 125% neutralization target. We then start actively removing CO₂ on January 1 through various neutralization projects.

What do we mean by climate-positive and regenerative horticulture?

"Today, sustainability is largely measured in CO₂ equivalents. We therefore also view our emissions from an accounting perspective. By the term climate-positive, we mean that we sequester more CO₂ than our company emits.

The term regenerative horticulture originates from agriculture. When a piece of land sequesters more CO2 annually, we refer to it as regenerative. Horticulture is known for its innovative nature. That is why we combine naturel processes with technical solutions to sequester CO2 and store it long-term," explains Stijn Baan.

In 2026, we will invest in the following climate projects

Regenerative agriculture, in which CO₂ is sequestered in the soil through increased organic matter accumulation, in collaboration with Erwin Westers of Horaholm.

Sustainable fuels that are blended with conventional fuels, thereby reducing CO2 emissions from diesel use, via CarbonLeop.

Hemp insulation from Green Dutch, a biobased insulation material that absorbs CO2 during the hemp's growth and stores it long-term in the building material.

Planting forests via Tree-Nation, through which trees absorb CO₂ from the atmosphere during their growth and sequester it long-term in biomass and soil.

Wooden piles are used in the construction of new greenhouses. Throughout the structure’s lifespan, the wood stores CO₂ that was absorbed during the trees’ growth.

Incorporating basalt rock into the growing bed. Through natural weathering, the rock reacts with CO₂ from the air, causing it to be permanently sequestered in stable minerals.

Achieving CO₂ reduction at other horticultural companies through innovations from Division Q, which accelerate sustainability and emission reductions across the broader horticulture sector.

Not yet perfect, but transparent

We are proud of this step, but we also realize that our approach is not yet perfect. There are significant differences in quality, credibility, and price among the various climate projects that generate carbon credits. These differences are primarily determined by the following factors:

- Method: How is CO₂ captured? Are the carbon credits based on actual CO₂ storage or on calculated future capture?

- Location: Land, labor, and implementation are often more expensive in Western Europe than in other parts of the world. This affects the price of carbon credits.

- Certification: Carbon credits are a rapidly growing market with various certification systems. Independent certification increases a project’s reliability and transparency.

- Storage duration: CO₂ is not always stored permanently. Many projects therefore guarantee a minimum storage period. The longer CO₂ is demonstrably sequestered, the greater the project’s climate impact.

The projects in which we invest in 2026 therefore also vary in quality and impact.

Take, for example, the regenerative agriculture of Erwin Westers of Horaholm in Groningen. As a Dutch grower, he produces seeds for Koppert Cress and actively works to increase the organic matter content in his soil. This sequesters CO₂ for a longer period of time. This project is local, certified, and has a long storage duration. That makes it a high-quality solution, but also a relatively costly one.

Another example is planting forests through Tree-Nation. Here, the carbon credits are based on calculations of the amount of CO₂ that trees absorb over their lifecycle. The trees are planted worldwide and sequester CO₂ for decades.

Additionally, supplementary certifications are available for these projects. Although this approach is less direct and certain than some other methods, it does make a valuable contribution at a lower cost.

For our current strategy, we therefore award ourselves a bronze medal. The gold and silver medals have not yet been awarded. We see this as a good start and will continue to improve our approach every year. We are proud of the steps we are taking now, while at the same time remaining transparent about where we can still grow.

Timeline for the coming years

Each year, we first calculate our actual CO₂ emissions. We then update our projections and determine which climate projects best align with our objectives. Following this decision, the necessary carbon credits are purchased for the following year, In this way, we work stap by step towards an ever-improving climate strategy.

Together, beyond neutral

Striving for climate-positive business is not something you do on your own. We will need to collaborate, learn together, and share experiences. We have chosen to set the bar high, knowing that we will continue to improve along the way.

We want to show that progress is possible, even when not everything is set in stone. That transparency is not a weakness, but a prerequisite for real impact. And that greenhouse horticulture has the opportunity right now to lead the way.

We invite partners, growers, and innovators to contribute their ideas and help build this vision. Not because we already have the answer, but because we believe that together we can achive more than we can in individually.

This is not a finished story, but a movement. And we’d love to set it in motion together.