Welcome to Epax’s first annual Environmental, Social and Governance Report. This is where we share our commitment to creating a sustainable future by aligning our business strategy and practices with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
As a leading supplier of marine ingredients, we recognize the impact our operations have on the environment, society, and the economy. We have an unwavering commitment to sustainability and to ensuring that we have a positive influence on the world we live in.
Our ESG Report 2022 provides an overview of our initiatives to minimize our environmental impact, promote social responsibility across our supply chain, and improve corporate governance.
We are proud to share our progress in contributing to the UN’s SDG goals and the impact we have made on the communities we serve. Our achievements include reducing fuel oil use by 33% since 2019, cutting water consumption at our factory by 57%, and creating a 96.7% circular economy for biomaterials against a global average of just 7.2% (read more about the circularity gap here).
For 2023, we will work towards achieving certification in social sustainability and reporting in accordance with recognized ESG standards. By the end of 2025, we aim to become more energy efficient and achieve 100% renewable energy use at our factory. We will also continue to reduce our consumption of potable water and develop our by-products into valuable products and resources. By 2030, we aim to reduce biological oxygen demand (BOD) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) by 60%.
At Epax, we take our responsibilities seriously. We care deeply about healthy oceans, strong communities, and fair working practices. We firmly believe that being an environmentally and socially responsible company benefits our stakeholders and customers, and contributes to the success of our business in the long term.
We recognize that the journey towards sustainability is ongoing and that there is still much work to do. We are committed to pushing ourselves to the limit to achieve continuous improvement in our ESG practices, set new targets, and report transparently on our progress. We hope this report will be a valuable resource in sharing our achievements and inspiring others to join us in creating a more sustainable future.
Bjørn Refsum
Chief Executive Officer
Epax Norway AS