Sustainability Progress Update: Reducing Our Environmental Impact

Ian Farquhar, Head of Sustainability at Rosti Group, shares an update on the progress we’ve made so far in 2024 to reduce our environmental impact.

I’m proud to share the significant progress we’ve made in reducing our environmental impact across our plastic injection molding facilities so far in 2024. In an industry that has traditionally relied on resource-intensive processes, sustainability is both a challenge and an opportunity. Rosti’s mission is clear: to reduce the carbon footprint of the products we manufacture as well as our own operations, while continuing to deliver the high-quality products our customers expect. I’m excited to highlight the steps we’ve taken and shine a light on the initiatives that are positioning us as a leader in sustainable plastics manufacturing.

Top Achievements in 2024

Partnering with Global Drinks Brand on Emissions Reduction:

One of our biggest achievements this year has been our collaboration with a long-term customer, which chose us to implement our Sustainability Proposition for reducing emissions. This includes initiatives such as product lightweighting and using renewable energy. This project is a powerful example of how we can partner with our customers to integrate sustainability into their products, delivering meaningful emission reductions.

Increasing Renewable & Clean Energy Usage:

In 2023, we reached 41% renewable and clean energy use across our global sites, and we’re on track to grow this to 55% by the end of 2024. This major shift not only decreases our reliance on fossil fuels, but also supports global efforts to decarbonize industry. By prioritizing renewable energy sources, we’re making real progress toward our goal of cutting our carbon emissions.

Improving Energy Efficiency:

Energy efficiency is another area where we’ve made notable progress. Our “Site Energy Champions” have created a Community of Practice that’s spreading best practices across our locations worldwide. Through their efforts, we’re on target to achieve a 6% improvement in energy efficiency in 2024 compared to last year. With many projects underway, we’re confident these improvements will continue, underscoring the importance of grassroots efforts to reduce our environmental footprint.

Partnering with Position Green on Carbon Emissions

In 2024, we completed a standardized global Carbon Emissions Inventory in collaboration with Position Green, covering all 12 of our production sites and global offices. This baseline data has provided a clearer picture of our carbon footprint and helped us identify where we can make the greatest improvements.

Our analysis shows that 68% of our total emissions come from materials and outsourced parts. Because of this, we’re focusing on working with customers to redesign products using renewable or recycled materials, reducing product weight, and simplifying complexity. Meanwhile, 16% of our emissions come from fossil-based energy usage. By continuing to purchase cleaner and more renewable energy and improving energy efficiency, we’re well positioned to cut this even further.

Focus for the Rest of 2024

In the coming months, we’ll continue building on these recent successes by launching Product Emissions Reduction initiatives with more customers worldwide. These projects will focus on product redesign and material selection to further cut carbon emissions. Our Innovation Centers will play a key role in advancing and accelerating these projects, and we’re working with our customers throughout Q3 to find the best opportunities for collaboration.

Changing Customer Conversations on Sustainability

One of the most exciting changes we’ve seen is increased interest in sustainability throughout our customer base. The push to meet new regulations and climate goals is prompting customers to demand reliable, verifiable sustainability information from their suppliers. Many clients now have dedicated teams focused on sustainability improvements, which perfectly aligns with our ambition to be the benchmark provider of sustainable plastic solutions.

Bio-Resins and Material Innovation

We’re seeing growing interest in bio-resins from our customers. These renewable materials are a promising way to lessen the environmental impact of plastic products, and several customers are already exploring their use. Our development teams are working closely with these customers to integrate bio-resins into their product lines, showing how material innovation can foster a lower-carbon future.

In summary, 2024 has been a year of real progress, and we’re committed to keeping this momentum going. Whether it’s through energy efficiency, renewable energy use, or product and material innovation, we’re making headway toward our sustainability goals. As customer interest in sustainability grows, we’re confident our proactive approach will help position us as leaders in delivering sustainable plastic solutions. The journey ahead will require collaboration, innovation, and determination, but we’re ready to meet the challenge head-on.