Sustainability

Sustainable mushrooms for a sustainable future

At Limax we are on a mission to change the world through food. We believe that food is only perfect if it is healthy, tasty, and good for people and planet. With our sustainable mushrooms, we build towards a sustainable future every day.

Our sustainability mission

Building a sustainable future. Something that's easier said than done. To guide the creation of this sustainable future, we use the 17 SDGs of the United Nations as a guideline.

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17 Sustainable Development Goals

The SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) are seventeen different goals, formulated by the United Nations, to make the world a better place. 

The sustainable developments goals are an excellent tool that connects everyone, from government to business, from society as a whole to individual citizens. View the goals as a common language towards a sustainable society by 2030. To achieve the goals, everyone will have to contribute. As one of the largest mushroom suppliers in Western Europe, we also contribute to the 17 SDGs. We do this by placing sustainability at the heart of all aspects of our business.

Knowledge of the chain

70% of all electricity we use is generated by our own solar panels

We recycle all our waste products

We try to avoid plastic, if we have to. We use plastic that's made from at least 80% recycled materials

Efficient distribution optimization to minimize impact on the environment

Data analytics to prevent products from going bad and boost sales

Our sustainable packaging

At Limax, we are constantly looking for ways to reduce the environmental footprint of our packaging:

☻ A large part of our mushroom dishes are now made from 80% recycled plastic. We also save 10% on plastic every day because we have changed our top seal from hard plastic to foil.

☻ We use two-layer cardboard packaging for some of our customers. This saves us 25% on our cardboard production.

Innovative cardboard box

- Save 50% shelf space

- Now with 30% less cardboard

- 100% sustainable within 10 years


You can find out
all about our sustainable working methods here →

Our exeptional mushroom growers

Our mushroom growers are specialists in the field of sustainability. Contributing to SDG 12: responsible consumption and production.

☻ Our compost supplier collects horse and chicken manure from horse riding schools and chicken stables which is used to make fertilizer. 

☻ The mushroom feet that are traditionally thrown out are used and recycled into an umami powder flavor enhancer.

☻ The substrate layer on which the mushrooms are grown is reused in agriculture as a soil booster.

☻ The casing soil layer is reused in agriculture in, among other things, lettuce cultivation.

Whitepaper: The Mushroom Market in 2022

Want to learn more about consumer trends, new mushroom variants and how to use these products to grow market share? Download: The mushroom market in 2022

Our sustainable building

All our buildings are built to consume as little energy as possible. Contributing to SDG 7 -  affordable and sustainable energy. 

Just to name a few things that make our building sustainable: 

  • We have installed a total of 2,002 solar panels on our buildings, with which we generate an average of 60% to 70% of our total energy used.
  • Instead of Freon for the cooling installations, we use a more environmentally friendly coolant.
  • Strict insulation rules are followed to consumer as little energy as possible.

We proudly carry these certificates

IFS Food

The International Food Standard (IFS) quality mark is the first quality mark that Limax received in 2000. It is a certification that relates to the food safety of Limax. Within IFS, 10 criteria are used. If one of these criteria is not met, the certification will not be awarded. There is an annual audit by an independent organization that checks whether Limax meets the requirements for this quality mark. With this quality mark we are proud to contribute to SDG 12 - responsible consumption and production. The criteria of this quality mark concern the following aspects: 
 

GlobalG.A.P

We have carried the Global Good Agricultural Practices quality mark (GlobalGAP) since the beginning because this quality mark is an obligation from a number of European supermarkets. The label enables Limax's primary producers to certify their efforts in food safety, sustainability and quality. GlobalGAP's guidelines ensure that Limax manufacturers meet: High priority for safety and well-being of farmers and consumers Traceability Minimizing the use of pesticides animal welfare Minimization of agrochemical and pharmaceutical additives Integrated Crop Management (ICM) Efficient use of resources Environmental awareness The GlobalGAP standard applies specifically to the production of agricultural products for human consumption. With this quality mark, we as Limax contribute to SDG 12 - responsible consumption and production 
 

Skal Bio Controle

Limax has proudly carried the Skal quality mark since 2005. Skal Biocontrole is an independent organization for the supervision of the organic sector in the Netherlands. The Skal quality mark ensures that Limax complies with organic EU rules for the organic production, processing and trading of products. With the help of this quality mark, we contribute to SDG 15 - living on land. High priority for safety and well-being of farmers and consumers Traceability Minimizing the use of pesticides animal welfare Minimization of agrochemical and pharmaceutical additives Integrated Crop Management (ICM) Efficient use of resources Environmental awareness The GlobalGAP standard applies specifically to the production of agricultural products for human consumption. With this quality mark, we as Limax contribute to SDG 12 - responsible consumption and production 

PlanetProof

Since 2017, Limax has been a chain director of the PlanetProof quality mark. The PlanetProod quality mark guarantees that the product is produced more sustainably and is better for nature, climate and animals. As a chain director, Limax ensures that all growers we work with adhere to the requirements of the quality mark. With the help of the Planet Proof quality mark, Limax contributes to, among other things, cleaner air, fertile soil, good water quality and animal welfare. With the PlanetProof quality mark we contribute to SDG 15 - life on land.

Working towards a sustainable future together!

With the 17 SDGs of the United Nations as guidelines, we contribute to a sustainable future. We are transparent about the products we sell and the way we do it, but there is always room for progression. We also know that we are not yet doing everything right, for example we are not (yet) climate neutral. We always strive to improve ourselves in the field of sustainability. We do this by looking at a future in which sustainability is central together with our partners. Do you want to work with us on a sustainable future?

We transport our vitality boosters under optimal conditions to our customers’ distribution centres, so that they end up on your plate while still extremely fresh, and full of flavour and good nutrients.

We enrich our mushrooms with vitamin D, which is essential for the immune system and for both the growth and maintenance of strong bones and teeth.