Palsgaard’s Mexican branch celebrated having achieved carbon dioxide (CO2)-neutrality in 2016 recently.
In 2016, the company achieved CO2-neutrality at its headquarters and largest production site in Denmark.
It had a reduction in CO2-emissions of 16,000 tons, corresponding to 4,200 households.
Palsgaard Mexico has been working actively to achieve its goal since 2012 when the company first began installing solar panels on the factory roofs.
Today, more than 400 solar panels generate 95% of the electrical energy needed to run the factory.
Other projects, such as piping insulation, calorific energy recovery from steam condensates, reduction of energy consumption through light emitting diode or LED lamps and by using natural light via translucent ceiling sheets have also helped reduce the factory’s emissions.
In 2016, the remaining CO2 emissions related to liquefied petroleum gas consumption and 5% of the electricity from non-renewable sources were compensated through the purchase of carbon off-sets through the provider MEXICO2.
Deloitte has verified that Palsgaard Mexico thereby has achieved a zero-carbon footprint for 2016.
In 2017, the company will continue working to diminish the CO2 emissions by improving the energy usage efficiency.
Mexico has a national target of having a 35% clean energy supply by 2024.
Palsgaard Mexico has thus not only reached the national target, but even better reached 100% CO2 neutrality eight years ahead of time.
Targeting tomorrow
“For us, social responsibility is part of our daily lives,” explains Miguel Hidalgo, MD for Palsgaard Mexico.
“We don’t just talk, we act, and this declaration of CO2 neutrality is an example of the actions we take.”
“We expect to be an example and motivator for other companies and institutions to undertake projects related to social responsibility.”
“We are convinced that together we can contribute to the development of a better society and care for our environment.”
“Caring for the environment goes beautifully hand in hand with good business,” said CEO Jakob Thoisen.
“In fact, if we compile all the things we have implemented so far; waste straw as energy source, solar panels, wind energy, bio fuel, savings on insolation and heat recovery – then we are talking about very good business.”
He added that the remaining plants in the Netherlands and Malaysia have already embarked on a similar process towards global CO2-neutrality by 2020.
