Energy-efficient food supply chain

Energy use is the main factor influencing Apetit Group’s direct emissions and indirect emissions from the generation of purchased energy. 

At its production facilities, Apetit uses electricity, steam, district heat and light fuel oil. The operations that consume the most energy at Apetit’s production plants include the milling and refining processes at the Kantvik vegetable oil milling plant, cooling and freezing processes at the Säkylä and Pudasjärvi plants, as well as the peeling and processing of harvest season vegetables and the deep frying of patties and balls at the Säkylä plant.

The Säkylä frozen foods plant, in particular, has enhanced the monitoring of energy consumption in different processes to improve energy efficiency.

Apetit has significantly increased the use of renewable energy sources in its production activities. As of April 2020, all electricity used in Apetit’s factories has been produced by wind power. The bioenergy plant at the Kantvik vegetable oil milling plant went into production in late 2021. In 2023, the share of renewable fuels at the bioenergy plant has been increased and the utilisation of the plant’s side streams has been enhanced. At the Säkylä plant, an energy solution based on heat recovery was deployed in 2023.

Renewable sources accounted for 74 per cent of the energy used by Apetit at its production plants in 2023.

Logistics play an important role in both of the Group’s businesses, but Apetit has little in the way of its own transportation fleet or work machinery. Logistics can be influenced particularly by ensuring that loads are large and filled to capacity. The amount of fuels used in logistics and the resulting environmental impacts are mitigated by optimizing transport operations.

Developing energy efficiency

Apetit Group participates in the Energy Efficiency Agreement system of Finnish industries and has committed to implementing the Food and Drink Industry Action Plan by reducing its energy consumption by 7.5 per cent in 2017–2025.

In 2023, the Group’s energy consumption increased by 9 per cent compared to the reference year. Energy consumption is at the same level when compared to to the Energy Efficiency Agreement system’s benchmark year of 2016. There can be significant annual differences in energy consumption related to the harvest season. Energy efficiency at the Säkylä frozen foods plant has been improved by the energy solution deployed at the production facility in 2023. For example, district heat for properties is produced with heat pump technology from the refrigeration equipment’s waste heat. The new energy solution reduces the primary energy needs of the Säkylä plant by a third.

Energy from production processes into district heat

Säkylä’s new energy solution utilises energy recovered from production processes. With the help of heat pump technology, energy can be used as district heat in the heating of properties and domestic water.