Marine ingredients provider Epax has achieved major reductions to its carbon emissions as it nears its goal of 100% renewable energy use.
The Norwegian company’s CO2 emissions fell by 13.3% between 2021 and 2022 and by 9% between 2022 and 2023. Both figures are significantly higher than the 4.2% annual reduction required to limit global warming to 1.5°C. Epax now aims to achieve absolute reductions every year until 2030.
The cuts have largely been achieved through drastic reductions in the use of fossil fuel — made possible by the installation of a new electric boiler.
In 2023, more than 95% of the energy used by Epax came from clean hydroelectric power (up from 17% in 2020), with a figure of 100% targeted by the end of 2024.
The milestones are highlighted in Epax’s second annual Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) Report, which details the company’s progress towards reaching its sustainability goals through to 2030. Other achievements include:
- A 65% decrease in the amount of potable water used
- An increase in circularity for the use of marine biomaterials to 97%
- Using fish stocks certified by Friend of the Sea (FOS)
Bjørn Refsum, CEO of Epax, said: “We now cover 95% of our energy needs with clean hydro power. This has helped us to reduce our CO2 emissions and will be a key factor in further reducing our carbon footprint. We still have a lot of work to do, but this report marks some important milestones on our journey towards sustainability, and we hope it will inspire other manufacturers to join us.”
Epax’s 2023 ESG report sets out a series of sustainability goals, including continued development of excess fractions into valuable resources to maintain a circular bioeconomy and achieving a higher yield with lower energy consumption.
They align with five UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): clean water and sanitation (SDG 6), decent work and economic growth (SDG 8), responsible production and consumption (SDG 12), climate action (SDG 13), and life below water (SDG 14).
