Sustainability

Environmental Sustainability

Sustainability is not something we merely implement but an intrinsic part of our operations; it emerges from our structure and the way we do business.

Increasing world population and quality of life in developing countries has lead to an enhanced demand for food products. This is both an opportunity and a challenge for the food industry. Today more urgently than ever, it is imperative to operate with the outmost respect toward our natural environment and in a way that will empower future generations to prosper as well. With this in mind, Agroinvest has pioneered the implementation of sustainability schemes on a voluntary basis, long before they became mandatory. Additionally, we are continuously educating our farmer partners on the best sustainability practices.

Agroinvest has implemented a control system according to 2BSvs requirements for Biomass Production and Mass Balance System, for its operations concerning:

  • 1st gathering entity and receipt of: Soybeans – Rapeseeds (canola) – Sunflower seeds – Cotton seeds – Crude Glycerine – Crude oils [soybeans oil, rapeseed oil (canola oil), sunflower seed oil, cottonseed oil], fatty acids, animal fats, UCO’s, waste and residues. – Refined – semi refined oils [soybeans oil, rapeseed oil (canola oil), sunflower seed oil, cottonseed oil], fatty acids, animal fats, UCO’s, palmoil, palmoilens, waste and residues.
  • Oil mill (seed crushing) for the production of crude oils [soybeans oil, rapeseed oil (canola oil), sunflower seed oil, cottonseed oil].
  • Oil refinery for the production of refined and semi refined oils [soybeans oil, rapeseed oil (canola oil), sunflower seed oil, cottonseed oil], fatty acids, animal fats, UCO’s, palmoil, palmoilens, waste and residues.
  • Esterification plant for the production of esterified fatty acids.
  • Biodiesel plant for the production of Biodiesel (FAME), Crude Glycerine and Fatty Acids.
  • Trading, for the following products: Crude oils [soybeans oil, rapeseed oil (canola oil), sunflower seed oil, cottonseed oil], fatty acids, animal fats, UCO’s, palmoil, palmoilens, esterified fatty acids. Refined oils – semi refined oils [soybeans oil, rapeseed oil (canola oil), sunflower seed oil, cottonseed oil], fatty acids, animal fats, UCO’s, palmoil, palmoilens, esterified fatty acids. Crude Glycerine – Biodiesel (FAME)

The company has been assessed and found compliant to:

2BSvs Requirements for the Verification of Biomass Production, Ref.:2BSvs-STD-01, version 1.9

2BSvs Requirements for Mass Balance System, Ref.:2BSvs-STD-02-, version 1.8

Agroinvest made a significant investment in the production of certified sustainable biofuels. EU and Greek law asks that all transport diesel is mixed in a  7% percentage with sustainable biodiesel (B7). Biodiesel greatly reduces greenhouse gas emissions (carbon dioxide in particular), is renewable and environmentally friendly. It greatly improves quality of air in urban areas, because it acts as a combustion enhancing additive which reduces harmful emissions and engine residues. Biodiesel minimizes the dependance on fossil fuels and imported diesel thus strengthening energy self-sufficiency.

We are certified by the independent auditor “Bureau Veritas” according to the 2BSvs sustainability requirements.  2BSvs is a consortium that is “aimed to demonstrate through independent audit, compliance of sustainability criteria set by the European Directive 2009/28/EC. Facilitating sustainability claims, with respect to the Directive, for biomass used as raw material and biofuels processed from that biomass.”

The main principles ensure:

  • reduced greenhouse gas emissions
  • that biomass does not come from high biodiversity lands
  • that biomass is a result of farming practices in accordance with EU Common Agricultural Policy
  • implementation of a mass balance system for each logistical site
  • implementation of a control system for each economic operator