A clear position on climate issues

As a food producer and agricultural cooperative, Lantmännen has a responsibility to do what we can for more climate friendly food. Lantmännen has worked to reduce carbon emissions from own production since 2009, and the reduction is over 70 percent.

Cultivation stage is the most important part 

In the food value chain, in principle all the primary value for humans is created in the cultivation stage.  Carbon hydrates, proteins and other nutrients that humans need are created here. Consequently, the  main part of resources are used in the cultivation, and environmental impact in the chain from field to fork occur. To grow and harvest, the soil needs tillage, the plant needs sowing, protection, nutritients and the crop finally is to be threshed and dried, and all these activities have climate and environmental impact. In the cultivation step, carbon is sequestrated in the plant and some of the carbon stay in the land, primarily in the plant's roots and the land can become a carbon sink and contribute to capture carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. 

From a life cycle perspective, the carbon footprint of many of our products is greatest in the cultivation stage. The main contributors are biological conversion of nitrogen in the soil, diesel consumption and drying of grain. Production of plant nutrients (commercial fertilisers) also accounts for a significant proportion. To give a complete picture of climate impact from grain production, the carbon sequestration must be included. Today, methodology is not available to quantify the carbon sequestration in a life cycle analysis. Reference: Lantmännen internal data 2018. 

Climate target for primary production

In 2019 , Lantmännen decided on a new climate target for the primary production. The target is to create prerequisites for a sustainable primary production with a halved climate impact every ten years to achieve climate neutrality by 2050.

Primary production includes the first part of the value chain – activities on the farm – and this is where the main value is created. By reducing the impact from farming and the impact from our own production and transports, we can create a sustainable food value chain, from field to fork.

Based on our climate target, we have produced the report Future farming, what describes the potentials for a more sustainable Swedish farming. Read more. 

Cultivation concept for lower carbon footprint

We are working with farmers to develop cultivation in a more sustainable direction. This involves developing and offering environmentally friendly fuels and services for optimised cultivation, and carrying out research in areas such as plant breeding and biological plant protection. We are also developing cultivation programs for grain with a lower carbon footprint. One example is Kungsörnen's wheat and rye flour with up to 30% reduced climate impact. 

Own production target reached in 2020

Lantmännen's goal to reduce production emissions by 40 percent between 2009 och 2020 was achieved in 2015. We set a new target, to reach another 40 percent reduction until 2020. This target was reached in 2020. Between 2009 and 2020, emissions relative to net sales declined by 71 percent. In absolute figures, emissions have fallen by 62 percent. A new long-term target for climate impact from energy use will be developed in 2021.

The following initiatives are core parts of our work: 

• 40 percent reduction in our own production facilities until 2020, compared to 2015
• Fossil-free production in Sweden and Norway by 2025, in the rest of the Nordics by 2030 and in all of Europe by 2040
• Improved energy efficiency by 3 percent annually in relation to production volumes, until 2020

Greenhouse gas emissions in relation to net sales and target for 2020

Climate emissions decreased with 45 percent from base year 2015 and means that we have achieved the climate target for 2020, which is 2,8 ton CO₂e/MSEK sales.

Lantmännen's total emissions of greenhouse gases per scope, according to World Business Council för Sustainable Development Green House Gas Protocol, see table below. Learn more in our Annual Report with Sustainability Report.

Energy efficiency and fossil free production

An important part of the progress has been the transition from fossil fuel oil to biofuels at our facilities. In several cases, residues from our own production have been used to replace fossil fuels. We are also working systematically on improving energy efficiency at the facilities.

Reduce emissions from transports

Lantmännen is present all the way from field to fork. Along the way, we have transports needing fuel and creating emissions.The emissions must be reduced. More transportation needs to be moved to rail and sea, and the proportion of renewable fuels must increase. In cooperation with our transport suppliers, we are working to improve planning, increase the fill rate and promote eco-friendly vehicles, fuels and driving.

Lantmännen has a target to reduce emissions from purchased transports with 70 percent to 2030 in relation to net sales in the period 2009-2030. The target is an important part of Lantmännen's climate strategy and work to develop business in a more sustainable direction. The outcome for 2020 was a reduction of 17 percent from 2009 and a positive trend from previous years.

Read more about our cooperations within transports.