Environment

HiPP: the organic baby food giving biodiversity a boost

It is estimated that, between 1970 and 2010, the earth lost 52 % of its biodiversity. This should be a concern for all of us including producers who rely on raw materials for their natural ingredients. Fortunately, HiPP, an organic baby food producer, has made biodiversity a key part of its work for some 20 years now.

Founded in 1899, HiPP began focusing on organic baby food since 1956. Today, it is one of the world’s largest organic food makers and a market leader in Germany, with over a million jars leaving its plant at Pfaffenhofen an der Ilm, Bavaria each day.

Demand for organic products in the EU is still rising, with the organic market growing by 7.4 % in 2014 and retail sales valued at EUR 24 billion. Focusing on sustainability thus has the potential to bring big financial benefits.

‘For HiPP, sustainability is a prerequisite to creating quality of life and fitness for the future. This means thinking beyond quarterly reports and taking orientation from sustainable values. On the one hand, it involves rejecting “quick bucks” and “bargain-basement prices”. On the other hand, it has brought increasing sales and turnover,’ says Stefan Hipp, Managing Partner of the family-owned company.

A long-term objective of the company is to advance the biodiversi-ty-friendliness of its products. This led HiPP to set up a 180-hectare model farm at Pfaffenhofen which explores organic agriculture practices such as pesticide-free growing methods and enhancing soil quality through crop rotation and humus creation.

As Stefan Hipp tells us, ‘The very existence of our world depends on biodiversity. For this reason the company has declared protection of biodiversity to be a top priority. In recent years HiPP has undertaken numerous actions that contribute to preserving the diversity of species, focusing on Ehrensberger Hof as a biodiversity research farm.’

HiPP hopes to recreate a similar success story to the one they had when they helped to introduce banana farmers in Costa Rica to organic farming methods using no pesticides or herbicides. This helped to conserve natural habitats and protect biodiversity. Unlike on plan-tations, the banana plants are widely spaced which allows disease or fungal infection to be quickly contained by simply removing the affected tree.

HiPP also works with other organisations through its membership in Biodiversity in Good Company, an alliance of firms looking to integrate biodiversity protection into their business.

And HiPP’s commitment to biodiversity goes even further and includes a strong focus on green jobs. HiPP offers a variety of green jobs and qualifications in different departments. In addition, ‘the sustaina-bility department organises environmental excursions and

EUROPEAN BUSINESS AWARDS FOR THE ENVIRONMENT

WINNER OF BUSINESS AND BIODIVERSITY AWARD

The 2016-17 Business and Biodiversity Award shortlisted companies included:

• HiPP-Werk Georg Hipp OHG (Germany) for 20 Years of HiPP

Sustainability Management;

• Wilhelms GmbH (Germany) for Seed Treatment with Plant-

Associated Soil-Microorganisms to Improve Plant Yield and

Resistance in Industrial and Organic Sustainable Agriculture;

• Companhia das Lezírias, SA (Portugal) for Forest Management

on Behalf of Biodiversity;

• Cafeology (United Kingdom) for the Bird-Friendly

Coffee Initiative.

other hands-on courses where trainees and staff members receive support from external experts such as scientists and conservationists,’ says Stefan Hipp.

One of HiPP’s rules states that ‘being a HiPP staff member means being a sustainability staff member.’ Staff are encour-aged to cycle to work and take part in activities such as fuel-efficient driving courses and learning about sustainable food and biodiversity.

Employees also have to adhere to a sustainability code. As Stefan Hipp explains, ‘The HiPP Sustainability Guidelines are the binding principles underlying the day-to-day activities. HiPP links ecological and economic actions with social responsi-bility to establish a binding system of ethical principles and develop an international and cross-generational entrepre-neurial strategy.’

Sustainability has been at the heart of HiPP for many years now and in 1995 it was one of the first companies in Europe to adopt the EU Eco-Management and Audit Scheme – a tool that helps firms assessing and improving their environmental performance. This led to a 90 % drop in HiPP’s CO2 emissions over the last 15 years, its renewable energy use going from zero in 1995 to almost 90 % by 2002, water consumption reduction of over 70 % and recycling of 99.8 % of HiPP’s waste.

As recognition of its efforts to make biodiversity a key part of its work, the German business won the 2016-17 Business and Biodi-versity Award at the European Business Awards for the Environment. The jury noted HiPP’s commitment to produce high quality food in a way that is in harmony with nature. Incorporation of biodiversity into operations through the setting up of a dedicated department and firm also set HiPP apart from its peers.

The Business and Biodiversity Award

The European Business Awards for the Environment’s Business and Biodiversity Award recognises companies who put in place business models or management schemes, or develop products, services or international links that help to stop biodiversity loss and support natural ecosystems.

The winner is chosen from companies entering any of the four main categories (International Business Cooperation, Management, Products and Services, or Processes). Entrants must state on their application whether they want to be considered for the Business and Biodiversity award.