At Kemin we are compelled to make our planet a safe, healthy and sustainable place to live today and for future generations. As a global provider of key ingredients for food safety, shelf life and yield enhancement, we are committed to a variety of sustainability programs across our business that ensure progress towards a better, more sustainable future.

A key driver of our sustainability efforts is the effects of climate change. For example, natural disasters, such as El Niño, recent wildfires and more, affect the food chain and consequently drive up ingredient and CPG food and beverage prices. We hope that protecting our planet by meeting Kemin’s sustainability goals can positively impact climate change, and therefore protect the world’s food supply.

Reducing Our Carbon Footprint

Man with his daughterPhoto: ®Kemin / Shutterstock
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions have been steeply increasing since the 1960s as a result of the use of fossil fuels, coal burning and more—and when CO2emissions rise, the environment changes.

At Kemin we recognize the importance of reducing our carbon emissions and have set goals to lessen our footprint:

  • Short-Term Goal: Achieve 20% of products manufactured at net zero emissions for Scopes 1 and 2 by 2028
  • Long-Term Goal: Have as many products as possible at net zero

Our hope is to get to zero net emissions for the products that customers purchase containing our ingredients, and that there is no additional CO2 emitted into the environment through the production of these food and beverage products.

How Kemin is working to reach our CO2 goals:

  1. Commitment to a carbon emission reduction plan at each Kemin location
  2. Third-party verification and validation of our goals
  3. Dedication to manufacturing products using less energy
  4. Transition to renewable energy

Initiative #4 is particularly important because electricity is the main CO2 contributor at Kemin. We source and produce renewable energy from a mixture of solar, wind, and hydro, based on the geographical location and resources available, and we have already made substantial investments.

Milestones so far include:

  • Des Moines, IA, U.S.A. headquarters is 100% renewable electricity
  • Belgium facility is 100% renewable electricity
  • Vargeão facility is 100% renewable electricity
  • In South Africa, Kemin is a net one-site producer and exporter of renewable electricity

CO2 levels are monitored and reported monthly and yearly at all Kemin facilities around the world. With facilities spread over five continents, our facilities span many different environments. It takes a dedicated effort to navigate carbon footprint reduction at each of these locations.

Person holding plantPhoto: ®Kemin / Shutterstock

Sustainability Standards for Our Partners

Kemin isn’t just working on sustainability within their own facilities, we make sure our external partnerships align with our goals, which helps ensure responsible sourcing.

We partner with expert growers to raise more than 1,100 acres of specialty crops used in our natural plant extracts for use in human food. We maintain sustainable cultivation methods that include:

  • Managed life cycle
  • Minimal inputs
  • Good agriculture practices

Kemin’s 3 Pillar Approach to Sustainability

At Kemin, we view sustainability through three lenses: healthy people, healthy planet, and healthy business.

We believe that to have an overall sustainable business with well-rounded sustainability programs, we have to consider all three of these pillars at all times:

Healthy People

  • Global and local community engagement
  • Employee engagement and development

Healthy Planet

  • Climate action
  • Use of clean energy
  • Reduction in water usage and contamination
  • Decrease in waste

Healthy Business

  • Sustainability governance
  • Sustainable agriculture practices
  • Sustainable product development
  • Involvement in broader sustainability conversation

Our Sustainability Promise

We believe an ongoing pledge to sustainability is critical for healthy people, a healthy planet and a healthy business. Kemin is committed to working towards and reporting on our goals of reducing emissions. We’ll continue to approach sustainability with actionable, measurable initiatives backed by science.

Learn more about what sustainability means to Kemin here.