In 2018, we adjusted many of our policies around sustainability. In 2019, we will continue and even further expand our Corporate Sustainable Responsibility. We have established a sustainable policy plan to support our efforts.
Cosmogroup chooses its suppliers critically.
To prevent illegal and dubious trade, we investigate every potential supplier before we partner with them. One of our criteria is that they must also make sustainable efforts. Certification of ISO 14001:2015 Environmental Management Systems or ISO 26000 Social Corporate Responsibility is a good guideline. This standard provides practical tools for companies and organizations of all kinds to manage their environmental responsibilities. This way, we can guarantee that our ingredients, raw materials, packaging, etc. are harvested or produced in an environmentally friendly manner.
Cosmogroup ensures a sustainable purchasing policy
In addition to price, quality, and delivery time, we also focus on sustainability in our purchasing decisions. We evaluate the social and environmental aspects of each purchase. We discuss our long-term relationships with our suppliers to ensure transparency, process improvement, and efficient procurement policies. Therefore, we select our suppliers very carefully. Additionally, we also try to look for European suppliers so that we can shorten the transport distance.
Cosmogroup dresses its employees in sustainable clothing
We can guarantee that our workwear comes from European factories and is made from sustainable fabrics. Our supplier continuously strives for quality, innovation, and improvements. Workwear also includes protective clothing to ensure the safety of our employees during the production process.
Cosmogroup and social well-being
At Cosmogroup, we invest heavily in human capital. By fostering engagement, our employees become active participants in our mission and values. Additionally, we invest in a healthy work-life balance. Happy and motivated employees can only benefit our operations. Moreover, we strongly support equal opportunities. Our multicultural team comprises women, men, young people, and seniors. To enhance our employees' knowledge, we regularly organize internal company training sessions.
Cosmogroup and biological production
At Cosmogroup, we have adapted our production to also produce organic products. This means we had to reorganize our production department, look for organic ingredients and raw materials, but also adapt our way of working. The four organic principles are:
- Healththe preservation and improvement of the health of soil, plant, animal, and human as one indivisible whole.
- EcologyBiological production must be based on, work with, imitate, and help support living ecological systems.
- Honestybuilding relationships that ensure honesty with respect to the common environment and life opportunities.
- CareBiological production must be managed responsibly to protect the health and well-being of present and future generations and the environment.
Cosmogroup and recycled packaging materials
At Cosmogroup, we want to prevent global deforestation by using recycled packaging materials. Our cardboard boxes are made from certified FSC® (Forest Stewardship Council®) material. A product bearing this label ensures better management of global forest resources. Not only our cardboard packaging is sustainable, but our plastic packaging is also made from innovative PET solutions that can be recycled afterward. The light weight of PET makes production and transportation easier. This allows our supplier to reduce carbon emissions during production, making a significant contribution to environmental protection. Unfortunately, we don't always have the freedom to choose eco-friendly packaging. We have consciously chosen not to use undesirable chemicals like preservatives and dyes. Therefore, we have limited options for safe and high-quality packaging because we need to guarantee the quality and shelf life of the product. The products are packaged under a protective atmosphere. We are continuously conducting research to find sustainable solutions for packaging that is not yet sustainable.
Cosmogroup digitizes its paperwork
At Cosmogroup, we try to print as little as possible. We have an online document sharing tool for our employees, communication with customers and suppliers happens via phone or email, and we will update our inventory management with a digital batch reporting system. When we do use paper, it is from certified FSC® material.
Cosmogroup and the renewable energy effort
One of the main causes of melting ice caps is the global emission of greenhouse gases. That's why we're trying to switch to renewable energy as much as possible. For example, we've replaced all our lighting fixtures from fluorescent to LED. LED lighting is much more energy-efficient and has a long lifespan, making it environmentally friendly. We've also adapted our fleet and asked our energy supplier, Eandis, to install a digital indicator of our energy consumption.
Cosmogroup and Fairtrade chocolate flavor
In recent years, we've seen a growing customer demand for responsibly sourced cocoa. Therefore, Cosmogroup has decided to use Fairtrade chocolate for all BSFood products with the ‘Belgian Chocolate’ flavor. The raw materials for the chocolate, including cocoa, sugar, and natural vanilla, come from African countries and are Fairtrade certified. The production of the chocolate takes place in Belgium. The Fairtrade Certification Mark ensures that the product meets certain economic, social, and environmental standards. The mark is the most recognized social and development label in the world and a registered trademark of Fairtrade International (FLO).
Cosmogroup's plant-based ingredients as a core activity
At Cosmogroup, our core business is the production of plant-based food and sports nutrition supplements. By producing and consuming plant-based foods and supplements, we can reduce our ecological footprint. We use safe alternatives for everything nature cannot provide, such as plant-based micronutrients. Our products are manufactured with strict policies against animal testing. Each product is guaranteed cruelty-free and lab-tested.
Cosmogroup and its waste policy
As a conscious company, we also pay great attention to our waste policy. All waste from our production is sorted and collected by specialized waste processing facilities. Furthermore, apart from our production activities, we only use recycled rainwater (for toilets, washing cars, etc.).
Cosmogroup uses microalgae from safe coastal systems
Most di- and tripeptides, omega-3s, vitamins, and minerals come from animals. However, algae are also an important source of these ingredients. We have chosen to use only plant-based sources in our BSFood range. Algae can be a good alternative for food. It does not always need to be grown in warm regions; Northwest Europe is also suitable for algae production. We only purchase algae that are grown in Europe, in coastal systems. This means a shorter transport distance and a safe harvest for marine animals.
Cosmogroup and its environmentally conscious fleet
The continuous flow of traffic and the associated air pollution are one of the biggest concerns when it comes to global warming. To actively prevent further damage to the ozone layer, we have adapted our fleet. Our company vehicles are electric or run on CNG. For the transport of our goods, we work with transport companies whose trucks run on 6th generation gasoline.
Cosmogroup invests in ergonomic furniture
Because the health of our employees is important to us, we have invested in ergonomic furniture, such as adjustable office chairs, for example. But we have also made adjustments to our production lines. We have installed additional machines and equipment so that our employees have to lift fewer heavy sacks.
Cosmogroup invests in research into biomass residue streams
With environmental consciousness in mind, we have searched for high-quality ingredients that are the result of sustainable protein recovery technology from biomass residual streams. Thanks to this research, we can use extracted nutrients from waste products. By doing so, we can prevent a huge amount of food waste. We support various university research teams to learn more about the possibilities of food waste and to develop environmentally friendly ways to use residual streams. We try to use as much biomass as possible in our BSFood products. For example, in our Vegandelight, we use protein from defatted organic peanuts, among other things.
Cosmogroup offers its employees the option to work from home
Employees working in administration, marketing, communications, etc., have the option to work from home at least one day per week. This option not only benefits employees but also the environment, specifically by reducing car emissions. Employees have flexible work schedules and don't have to worry about traffic jams, etc.
Cosmogroup and innovation
At Cosmogroup, we invest heavily in innovation, but we always keep in mind that innovation is focused on ecological aspects. We work closely with various universities to support them in the research and development of alternative raw materials and ingredients, such as from biomass waste streams. In our Lean Six Sigma Manufacturing principles, we also try to find the right balance between people, planet, and economy.