Responsibility, transparency, and performance
Long before sustainability became part of our daily vocabulary, our founders were pioneers in upcycling meat raw materials to maximize value and prevent unnecessary waste.
Our sustainability approach is founded on the principles of the Triple Bottom Line – balancing Planet, People, and Profit. We believe long-term business success depends on our ability to create value across all three dimensions. By reducing our environmental footprint, fostering safe and meaningful workplaces, and ensuring responsible growth, we aim to deliver lasting benefits for our customers, employees, and society.
This website and all content about sustainability apply exclusively to Essentia International and does not apply to Essentia North America.
With this first ESG report, we aim to share our progress and strengthen transparency across our value chain.
It reflects the main activities of Essentia International and our progress within sustainability from January to December 2024.
Our supply chain is deeply rooted in agriculture and livestock production, making us inherently dependent on nature’s cycles. Climate conditions, crop growth, and water availability all influence the quality and availability of our raw materials. This connection reminds us that caring for natural resources is not only an environmental responsibility but also essential to the long-term continuity and resilience of our business.
Download a copy of our ESG Report 2024.
A message from our CEO
"As the sustainability landscape evolves, Essentia wants to provide greater transparency around our initiatives and progress.
Sustainability has always been part of who we are. From the very beginning, Essentia was built on the principle of upcycling – turning animal by-products into valuable ingredients that help make the most of natural resources.
I am proud of the progress we have already made. Across all sites, teams are taking responsibility for identifying and implementing initiatives that drive us forward – from energy optimization and renewable sourcing to developing new, more sustainable products.
Equally important, we are strengthening our culture to make Essentia a place where people can grow and thrive. By investing in our employees and acting responsibly in everything we do, we build resilience and ensure that our growth remains healthy and profitable.
Looking ahead, we will continue to pursue pragmatic yet ambitious goals that guide our decision-making and keep us on track toward a sustainable future."
Asger S. Jacobsen, CEO Essentia International
The five sustainability dimensions of our ingredients
Dimension #1:
Fueling health with clean label and nutrient-rich ingredients
Our ingredients bring together what consumers want and what nutrition demands: clean label, protein- and collagen-rich ingredient solutions with no known allergens, no additives, and no artificial shortcuts.
Our ingredients are minimally processed delivering the benefits of real food in its most honest form.
By supporting better diets through natural, functional nutrition, we contribute to public health, consumer trust, and more sustainable food choices.
Dimension #2:
Ensure ingredients are safe for consumption
In a world of complex supply chains, safety is non-negotiable. Our ingredients meet globally recognized standards like FSSC 22000 and BRC, ensuring food processors can rely on consistent quality, full documentation, and best practices.
By reducing risk and building trust, we help safeguard consumers and protect brands - an essential part of sustainable business.
Dimension #3:
Help minimize the negative effects on the planet
Our ingredients are made with resource efficiency at their core - upcycling animal byproducts and minimizing waste.
They support customers in reaching their climate targets by contributing to Scope 3 GHG reductions.
With LCAs available for many of our ingredient solutions, we provide the data and transparency needed to make better, lower-impact choices - backed by evidence.
Dimension #4:
Drive cost efficiency and versatility
We offer ingredient solutions that work across species, food categories, and diets - making it easier to create food and pet food products that fit local needs and global trends.
On top of that, our functional protein solutions can replace or extend costly meat without compromising on quality, enabling manufacturers to cut costs, increase yield, and improve margins. It is a smart way to make better food, more accessible and more profitable.
Dimension #5:
Respect local traditions, religions, and preferences
From halal and organic certifications to traceable country-of-origin sourcing, we adapt to the cultural and ethical expectations of diverse markets.
Our flexibility helps customers create food and pet food products that align with local preferences and global values - supporting inclusion, transparency, and long-term consumer loyalty.
