A ceremony attended by the Danish ambassador (centre) and Palsgaard CEO Jakob Thoisen (right) was held this week.
Danish emulsifier company Palsgaard has achieved CO2 neutrality across its business in Mexico, claiming to have become the first industrial company to reach the zero-footprint milestone in the country.
Palsgaard Mexico has been working towards the goal since 2012, when the company first began installing solar panels on the factory roofs in San Luís Potosí, central Mexico. Today, more than 400 solar panels collectively generate 95% of the electricity needed to run Palsgaard’s sole Mexican facility.
Other projects – such as piping insulation, calorific energy recovery from steam condensates, reduction of energy consumption through LED lamps, and use of natural light through translucent ceiling sheets – have also helped reduce the factory’s net emissions.
And last year, the company purchased carbon off-sets to compensate for its remaining CO2 emissions, which are related to its LPG gas consumption and electricity obtained from non-renewable sources. The achievement puts Palsgaard far above the Mexican national target of 35% clean energy by 2024.
It promised to ‘continue working’ to lower its CO2 emissions in 2017 by further improving its energy mix.
A ceremony to celebrate its achievements so far was held in San Luís Potosí this week, attended by figures including the ambassador from Denmark to Mexico.
Ambassador Henrik Bramsen Hahn said: “Palsgaard has been a pioneer company for Danish companies and an example to follow in the use of renewable energy in its production processes, which has allowed them to improve their productivity and competitiveness.
“Palsgaard is demonstrating some of the values that Denmark has – such as efficiency, social responsibility and environmental awareness – and is an example to follow for other companies that want to increase their energy efficiency and implement green solutions.”
It is a year – almost exactly – since Palsgaard achieved CO2 neutrality at its headquarters and largest production site in Denmark – a reduction in emissions of 16,000 tons of CO2, or the equivalent of 4,200 households.
Palsgaard Mexico managing director Miguel Hidalgo said: “For us, social responsibility is part of our daily lives. This declaration of CO2 neutrality is a clear example of our conviction, commitment and responsibility in contributing to caring for our environment.
“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”.
And Palsgaard CEO Jakob Thoisen reaffirmed the value of focusing so heavily on its CO2 emissions.
“Caring for the environment goes beautifully hand in hand with good business,” he said. “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.
“This as well because more and more of our customers are becoming environmentally conscious and they appreciate our efforts, because we can help them satisfy the needs and demands of the consumers.”
According to Thoisen, the company’s remaining plants in the Netherlands and Malaysia have already embarked on a similar process towards CO2 neutrality, with a target of zero net emissions globally by 2020.
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