Doing your bit with a simple bite

It’s time to change & we’re all up for it. But when the problem is the size of a planet, where to start? Electric cars, solar panels, swapping not shopping, recycling, upcycling – or simply cycling? The scientists have an easy answer. The more of us who put more plant-based on our plates, the better it is for the planet. Doing your bit with every bite (or sip).

Doing your bit with a simple bite
Why your food matters!

Why your food matters!

Right now, our little earth is feeling pretty rough. It’s being pushed to its limits – what the scientists call ‘planetary boundaries’. Long story short, the food on our plates can have a big impact on those environmental limits. Like biodiversity loss, water scarcity and climate change just to name a few. 

You might be amazed to know just how greedy global food production can be. It pumps out a third of all CO2 emissions, gobbles up half of all the habitable land, glugs 70% of the planet’s fresh water and 78% of the ocean. And of all the precious creatures on the threatened list, 80% of them have lost their natural habitat because of farming. So what you choose to eat most definitely makes a difference.  

Shouty megaphone time. What do we need to do? Whatever we can. When do we need to do it? Right now! And how?  

‘One Planet Thinking’. Created a few years ago by WWF and IUCN (*), this a way of helping organisations set sustainable, holistic targets for the ways they protect biodiversity and use water and land. 

(*) One Planet Thinking or Science-Based targets for Nature. This methodology aims at helping organisations to set sustainable, holistic targets for the ways they protect biodiversity, and use water and land.   

Good food starts with good ingredients

Good to know that all our plant-based products have a light carbon and land use footprints (*). So, whether you’re an oat fanatic, addicted to almond or a soya hound, you’re doing good! We only use European oats and Mediterranean almonds. Plus, all of our soya is rainforest free and a good half of it is grown practically next door here in Europe. (The rest comes from Canada.)

On top of this, we work hard to make the way we produce our foods even more sustainable. Between 2010 and 2021, we’ve cut our operations carbon footprint by 34% and shrunk our operations water footprint by 29%.

Sustainably sourced, sustainably produced. It’s a double win!



(*) For the light carbon: 19% to 26% compared to milk
For the land use footprint: between 28% to 54% compared to milk
Based on a peer-reviewed comparative life cycle assessment conducted by Quantis in 2022 of Alpro Almond Original (1 l), Alpro oat Original (1L), Alpro Soya Original (1L) compared to milk in Europe

Almonds

Almonds

Our almonds come exclusively from farms around the Mediterranean. And even though at least 2/3 of the water they need already comes from rain, we’re always looking for more ways for our growers to use as little water as possible. Even right now, our almonds already drink 8 times less water than their thirsty American cousins. Switch to Alpro and in a year you could save as much water as 193 washing machine cycles. That’s what we call clean living! (*)

On top of that, we’re also committed to showing our farmers how to turn their orchards into welcoming homes for wildlife by creating ponds and planting ground cover crops and hedges. We can’t wait to see who turns up when they do!

And we’re going to go even further as we’re sowing the seeds for a brand new project, starting next year. We want to do all we can to support our growers on their journey towards regenerative agriculture. We’ll begin with a small number of ‘demo’ farms, look at the way they do things now and what’s possible for the future, and then suggest which practices would be best for them and make the most difference. It could be how to properly till and feed the soil, manage pests safely or use intercropping between trees to increase yields without using extra resources. By showing how it all works, we want to inspire our farmers to make the move to regenerative agriculture. And grow the goodness back into the earth.



(*) Based on a peer-reviewed comparative life cycle assessment conducted by Quantis in 2022 of Alpro Almond Original (1 l) compared to milk in Europe. Ingredients represent 85% of the total water consumption of this product. Mediterranean almonds use more land than U.S. irrigated almonds.
1 household washing machine cycle = 0,040 m³

Source
Soya

Soya

Our go-to ingredient and the one we use the most of. So, good to know, ours is all rainforest and non-GMO. Most is grown right here in Europe – more than half comes from France, Italy and Germany, the rest from Canada (transported by sea for a lighter carbon footprint). Right now, we’re working with our farmers to check and measure water usage, the effect it has on their local ecosystems and ways it could be cut down (*). So, go ahead, enjoy the soya!


(*) On soya we measured on the field the regenerative agricultural level with diagnostics (soil, carbon water & biodiversity topics) with 20 pilot farms in France. We will launch soon a program with territorial coalition to support regenerative agriculture transition for crops in the East of France.

Oats

Oats

The mighty oat! Just like soya, oats have a light ecological footprint. (*) Versatile oats may have come a long way from the porridge bowl, but they don’t have to travel far to get to us. All our oats are grown in Europe for fewer food miles. We think they’re pretty tasty, too, so there’ll be no change there.

(*) Stewart, D., & McDougall, G. (2014). Oat agriculture, cultivation and breeding targets: Implications for human nutrition and health. British Journal of Nutrition, 112(S2), S50-S57. doi:10.1017/S0007114514002736

Coconuts

Coconuts

We get our lovely, luscious coconuts from South East Asia, where they’re a part of the natural ecosystem. They’re a palm tree, for sure, but not related to palm oil in any way. The nuts are traditionally handpicked, and the trees left in place to carry on producing. In fact, they can keep on going until the ripe old age of 100! And coconuts are the crop that just keep on giving! Coconut milk, water, oil, flesh... And from garden mulch to mats on your floors, every last fibre can be used. We just love it!

Making it better

We’re not big on bragging (modest cough). But, if there’s a better way to make it and pack it, we’re on it and proud of it! Recycling the water and heat we use. Recyclable, recycled or plant-based materials in our packs that make our products as good outside as they are inside. 

Take a closer look

Our One Planet promise. What it means

Remember that One Planet Thinking? For today, tomorrow, 2025 and beyond, here’s the promise we’ve made to you and the planet:

  • 1

    Make delicious plant-based foods

  • 2

    Transform the way ingredients are grown

  • 3

    Use only planet-friendly ingredients

  • 4

    Zero carbon, water and waste

  • 5

    Less and better packaging

    • 2025, bring it on

    We’ve got a great big sustainability wish list – we’ve set a date, 2025, we’ve got targets, we’ve got tenacity, we’ve got you to help us! We’ll get there, if it’s one plant-based mouthful at a time.

    OUR GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS WILL BE DOWN BY 30%

    Our greenhouse gas emissions linked to energy use per product will be down by 30%, and 50% of the energy we use will be renewable To cut our emissions, we know that renewables is the way to go. So, we’re installing solar panels and looking at using our soya waste to create our energy. Beans to biogas. We like the sound of that!

    WE’LL BE USING 60% LESS WATER IN OUR FACTORIES

    Cleaning down our production lines is thirsty work, and we hate to see water just going down the drain. So, on three of our biggest sites, we’re going to reclaim or re-use as much water as possible by 2025. And cut down our overall usage across all our operations by 60%. We’re working with our suppliers and growers, too, to help them find ways to use less water. Making every raindrop count. 

    OUR WAR ON WASTE.

    Waste is such a… waste! Of resources, CO2 impact, time and energy. We’re proud of the fact that our production lines are so efficient we don’t send a single truck to landfill. It’s messy for the environment, and land has better things to do!  

    But that’s not going to stop us looking around for more ways to fight waste, all the way along the food chain from farm to fridge. Like working with local and regional food banks and being part our parent company Danone’s 10x20x30 plan. It brings together 10 of the world’s largest food retailers and providers, each one linking up with at least 20 suppliers to halve food loss and waste by the year 2030. Because good food is simply too good to go.

    WE’LL BE USING 0% WASTE, CLOSED LOOP PACKAGING

    We’ve already ditched the plastic straws and spoons. (We knew you’d understand and wouldn’t mind finding your own.) We’re scrapping the plastic lids on some of our pots. (Who needs’em? Not us, not you, not the planet!}  

    We’re putting our plant-based drinks in plant-based cartons. (It seems only natural.) And we’re using recycled plastics, whenever we can get them, for the rest. That cuts our CO2 down by 20%. But that’s not good enough for us. By 2030, all of our packs will be, not just recyclable, but made from 100% already recycled or plant-based materials. Hello, more recycled, recyclable PET and sustainably grown sugarcane cartons! Read more on BetterPacks 

    The facts about our packs

    WE’LL BE USING OUR SUPERPOWERS TO LEAD THE PUSH TOWARDS MORE RECYCLING

    We’ll be using our superpowers to lead the push towards more recycling in more places and we’ll start with switching from plastic cups to paper cups for our plant-based alternatives to yogurt.

    Right now, sad fact is it doesn’t matter how recyclable we make our packs; if the facilities aren’t there, they simply can’t and won’t be recycled. But we figure that we’re just big enough (and noisy enough) to make a difference. Where we go, others might follow. So, by making more and more of our packs 100% recyclable, we’re going to give the recycling industry a great big superman-sized hint that they need to get their act together!

    OUR GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS WILL BE DOWN BY 30%

    Our greenhouse gas emissions linked to energy use per product will be down by 30%, and 50% of the energy we use will be renewable To cut our emissions, we know that renewables is the way to go. So, we’re installing solar panels and looking at using our soya waste to create our energy. Beans to biogas. We like the sound of that!

    WE’LL BE USING 60% LESS WATER IN OUR FACTORIES

    Cleaning down our production lines is thirsty work, and we hate to see water just going down the drain. So, on three of our biggest sites, we’re going to reclaim or re-use as much water as possible by 2025. And cut down our overall usage across all our operations by 60%. We’re working with our suppliers and growers, too, to help them find ways to use less water. Making every raindrop count. 

    OUR WAR ON WASTE.

    Waste is such a… waste! Of resources, CO2 impact, time and energy. We’re proud of the fact that our production lines are so efficient we don’t send a single truck to landfill. It’s messy for the environment, and land has better things to do!  

    But that’s not going to stop us looking around for more ways to fight waste, all the way along the food chain from farm to fridge. Like working with local and regional food banks and being part our parent company Danone’s 10x20x30 plan. It brings together 10 of the world’s largest food retailers and providers, each one linking up with at least 20 suppliers to halve food loss and waste by the year 2030. Because good food is simply too good to go.

    WE’LL BE USING 0% WASTE, CLOSED LOOP PACKAGING

    We’ve already ditched the plastic straws and spoons. (We knew you’d understand and wouldn’t mind finding your own.) We’re scrapping the plastic lids on some of our pots. (Who needs’em? Not us, not you, not the planet!}  

    We’re putting our plant-based drinks in plant-based cartons. (It seems only natural.) And we’re using recycled plastics, whenever we can get them, for the rest. That cuts our CO2 down by 20%. But that’s not good enough for us. By 2030, all of our packs will be, not just recyclable, but made from 100% already recycled or plant-based materials. Hello, more recycled, recyclable PET and sustainably grown sugarcane cartons! Read more on BetterPacks 

    The facts about our packs

    WE’LL BE USING OUR SUPERPOWERS TO LEAD THE PUSH TOWARDS MORE RECYCLING

    We’ll be using our superpowers to lead the push towards more recycling in more places and we’ll start with switching from plastic cups to paper cups for our plant-based alternatives to yogurt.

    Right now, sad fact is it doesn’t matter how recyclable we make our packs; if the facilities aren’t there, they simply can’t and won’t be recycled. But we figure that we’re just big enough (and noisy enough) to make a difference. Where we go, others might follow. So, by making more and more of our packs 100% recyclable, we’re going to give the recycling industry a great big superman-sized hint that they need to get their act together!

    OUR GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS WILL BE DOWN BY 30%

    Our greenhouse gas emissions linked to energy use per product will be down by 30%, and 50% of the energy we use will be renewable To cut our emissions, we know that renewables is the way to go. So, we’re installing solar panels and looking at using our soya waste to create our energy. Beans to biogas. We like the sound of that!

    WE’LL BE USING 60% LESS WATER IN OUR FACTORIES

    Cleaning down our production lines is thirsty work, and we hate to see water just going down the drain. So, on three of our biggest sites, we’re going to reclaim or re-use as much water as possible by 2025. And cut down our overall usage across all our operations by 60%. We’re working with our suppliers and growers, too, to help them find ways to use less water. Making every raindrop count. 

    OUR WAR ON WASTE.

    Waste is such a… waste! Of resources, CO2 impact, time and energy. We’re proud of the fact that our production lines are so efficient we don’t send a single truck to landfill. It’s messy for the environment, and land has better things to do!  

    But that’s not going to stop us looking around for more ways to fight waste, all the way along the food chain from farm to fridge. Like working with local and regional food banks and being part our parent company Danone’s 10x20x30 plan. It brings together 10 of the world’s largest food retailers and providers, each one linking up with at least 20 suppliers to halve food loss and waste by the year 2030. Because good food is simply too good to go.

    WE’LL BE USING 0% WASTE, CLOSED LOOP PACKAGING

    We’ve already ditched the plastic straws and spoons. (We knew you’d understand and wouldn’t mind finding your own.) We’re scrapping the plastic lids on some of our pots. (Who needs’em? Not us, not you, not the planet!}  

    We’re putting our plant-based drinks in plant-based cartons. (It seems only natural.) And we’re using recycled plastics, whenever we can get them, for the rest. That cuts our CO2 down by 20%. But that’s not good enough for us. By 2030, all of our packs will be, not just recyclable, but made from 100% already recycled or plant-based materials. Hello, more recycled, recyclable PET and sustainably grown sugarcane cartons! Read more on BetterPacks 

    The facts about our packs

    WE’LL BE USING OUR SUPERPOWERS TO LEAD THE PUSH TOWARDS MORE RECYCLING

    We’ll be using our superpowers to lead the push towards more recycling in more places and we’ll start with switching from plastic cups to paper cups for our plant-based alternatives to yogurt.

    Right now, sad fact is it doesn’t matter how recyclable we make our packs; if the facilities aren’t there, they simply can’t and won’t be recycled. But we figure that we’re just big enough (and noisy enough) to make a difference. Where we go, others might follow. So, by making more and more of our packs 100% recyclable, we’re going to give the recycling industry a great big superman-sized hint that they need to get their act together!

    So, here’s to 2025

    We say, there’s never been a better time to join the plant-based movement. Doing your bit one bite (or sip) at a time.

    Read our full sustainability report