An essential point of the FLAVEX philosophy is the sustainable use of resources and the respect for the environment. The policy is especially directed towards the following objectives:

Botanical starting materials

Locally produced raw materials are used for production whenever possible. FLAVEX has contract cultivation agreements with selected agricultural cooperatives inside Germany and aboard. The company prefers and maintains a close and long term relationship with those raw material suppliers who have proved a reliable supply of high grade materials produced under sustainable and ethical conditions. Raw materials of certified organic or of controlled integrated cultivation are produced under conditions respecting the environment and preferentially processed.

FLAVEX invests also in the selection and breeding of plant material rich in valuable ingredients by cooperation in projects and support of research institutions.

Extraction procedure

CO₂-extraction is an eco-friendly method for the separation of plant ingredients without harmful emissions and without effluents of environmental impact. FLAVEX works with natural carbon dioxide of volcanic origin. This is existing carbon dioxide used for extraction purposes and therefore neutral to the environment. It does not contribute to the global CO₂ amount which is caused by burning of fossil fuels exclusively.

FLAVEX attaches importance as well to efficient production. Mass and energy flows are recorded in order to control and reduce energy consumption. Continuous efforts to optimise extraction procedures and hardware are substantial for all operations and contribute to both energy savings and competitiveness.

Energy management

The extracted vegetable residues are no waste. To one part they are used for further food and feedstuff production and to the other part as renewable biomass for energy production, e.g. by dry fermentation, where they are converted to biogas.

Other energy savings are realised by a heat pump system using lost heat from production for preparing hot service water and for heating the buildings. This successful concept was acknowledged by the affiliation to the local environmental pact (Umweltpakt Saar).

Site management

FLAVEX meets all environmental law provisions regarding the protection of air, soil and water and observes the guidelines of employment protection. All provisions are regularly updated.

The company has installed a photovoltaic unit on the roof of a new building for the transformation of sunlight to electric power with a performance of about 100 kWp. This is strongly reducing the carbon fingerprint of the total power consumption.

Another environmental project is the support of a wetland area on the company estate by special draining of rainwater from covered areas into a natural pond.

All FLAVEX operations are certified according to ISO 14001:2004.