Earth Day is Every Day at Kemin: 3 Ways We are Committed to Sustainability

Every April, Earth Day generates a lot of buzz about sustainability, but sustainability isn’t just a buzzword at Kemin; it’s a part of our global vision to sustainability transform the quality of life for 80% of the world’s population.

This Earth Day, Kemin is celebrating a significant step in its sustainability journey: we’ve lowered our overall carbon emissions by 10%.

For more than a decade, Kemin has been conscious of its impact on sustainability, but in 2021, the leadership team was compelled to do more and make an even bigger impact. They committed to gathering sustainability data and focusing on lowering the company’s overall carbon emissions. Taking a multifaceted approach, the company made significant improvements in a few short years. Here was how Kemin was able to reduce its overall carbon emissions by 10%.

1. Shift to Renewable Energy

Currently, Kemin has three locations that are running on 100% renewable energy. The global headquarters in Des Moines, Iowa, USA, which includes offices and manufacturing facilities, is running on solar energy and purchased renewable energy from the state’s robust wind energy program. 

Kemin’s European regional headquarters in Herentals, Belgium, and Latin American regional headquarters in Vargeão, Brazil, both operate on purchased renewable energy sources, including hydropower, wind, and solar energy. Worldwide, 55% of Kemin’s electricity is sourced from renewable sources. 

2. Focus on Lowering Emissions

In addition to creating and purchasing renewable energy, Kemin is committed to lowering Scope 1 emissions, which occur from sources owned and controlled by the company. 

For example, Kemin produces a product called MillSAVOR that is designed to improve the manufacturing of pelleted feed and feed ingredients. This liquid product is highly concentrated, meaning there is less water in the product than there used to be. This high-concentration formula reduces the amount of packaging needed for the product and lowers its carbon footprint because Kemin is not shipping water. Once onsite, the Kemin Application Systems (KAS) team customizes a system specifically designed for the customer’s feed mill so the product is efficiently applied.

By creating products with more active concentration and dedicating itself to best practices for efficient manufacturing, Kemin can lower its direct emissions. Finding more natural and energy-efficient fuel sources is key to reducing Scope 1 emissions. 

3. Use Third-Party Validation

Sustainability is essential to Kemin and vitally important to customers who are looking for external alignment to achieve their own sustainability goals. Working with outside agencies, such as the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), Ecovadis, and Sedex, shows our commitment to validating our efforts, meeting and exceeding industry standards, and keeping our goals aligned with our customer's sustainability goals. 

Practicing Corporate Sustainability 

As a privately owned and operated family business, Kemin is uniquely compelled to make this planet a safe, healthy, and sustainable place to live for all future generations. As a global company, we have the responsibility and ability to reduce our carbon footprint and safeguard natural resources. As a provider of essential ingredients for humans, animals, pets, and plants, we believe an ongoing commitment to sustainability is critical for healthy people, a healthy planet, and a healthy business.