Vion integrates sustainability report into its financial disclosures
Company includes CSR statement in 2024 Annual Report as it prepares for upcoming EU rules
NETHERLANDS – Vion Food Group has included its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) statement within its Annual Report 2024, moving away from standalone sustainability publications for the first time.
The shift signals the company’s attempt to align environmental and social performance with financial data, ahead of the European Union’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), which will apply to Vion from the 2027 reporting year.
In a statement, Chief Sustainability Officer Dr Veronika Weber said Vion is “the first meat company” to integrate sustainability at this level in preparation for the directive.
On the meat production side, the company reports that 19% of animals processed in 2024 came from higher-welfare farming systems, representing a 2.9 percentage point rise compared to the previous year.
Vion has also maintained animal welfare standards beyond legal requirements and invested in monitoring tools such as sensors and vision systems to assess welfare indicators on farms.
Training programmes involving virtual reality goggles were rolled out to staff to improve animal handling practices, while the company continues to explore alternatives to CO₂ stunning.
It also expanded its partnerships within the European Union’s animal welfare initiatives and supported farmers through long-term agreements and pricing strategies aimed at income stability.
Environmental and climate performance
Vion says it remains committed to cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 42% by 2030, in line with targets under the Science Based Targets initiative.
During the reporting year, the company increased its use of renewable electricity in both Germany and the Netherlands and installed heat pumps and energy-efficient cooling technologies at its processing sites.
These upgrades contributed to a reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions, while Scope 3 efforts focused on collaborations with feed suppliers and farmers to track and cut emissions at the farm level.
A pilot project targeting feed and manure-related emissions delivered an average 15% decrease in carbon footprint, and further pilots are planned for 2025.
In the area of biodiversity, the company trialled the elimination of feed associated with land-use change and worked with Wageningen University on converting animal manure into fertiliser.
It also reported ongoing work on measuring biodiversity indicators and applying circular economy models within its operations.
Workforce and food safety
Vion recorded a 35% drop in lost time injury frequency in 2024, attributing this to improved health and safety training, better equipment, and increased focus on internal audits.
On food safety, all Vion sites retained their IFS or BRC certifications, and 92.3% of its products sold externally came from sites with IFS Product Integrity Assessment certification.
The company is also participating in research into hyperspectral imaging for identifying microbial risks, as it aims to maintain quality standards across its production network.
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