Product & responsibility
We act consciously
Thinking outside the box is a matter of course at ERBACHER the food family. We look at the entire production chain in our food manufacturing. How do we use the raw materials? How can we make our production energy-efficient? How do we package the finished product so that it stays fresh for a long time? These are questions that we ask ourselves - because sustainability is important to us.
The Josera Way
Farming with ERBACHER the food family
In milk production, we offer optimisation of traditional methods (for both conventional or organic methods) in order to contribute effectively to economically, ecologically and socially recognised farming. The third method, The Josera Way, is the sustainable practice of producing milk economically, ecologically, and in a socially acceptable way. The Josera Way is particularly aimed at farms on natural grassland sites that produce their own grass and concentrated feed. These family businesses operate in material cycles and are sustainable, as they create the opportunity to pass on the land, livestock, and knowledge to the next generation. Josera feed products help to optimise the animals' rations.
What does ERBACHER the food family actually put in the bag?
Use of raw materials
Producing animal feed is comparable to baking a cake: a wide variety of ingredients are processed according to a specific recipe. We use over 350 individual components for our animal feed in the livestock feed and pet food divisions. We use these various components to produce complete feeds (e.g., for cats, dogs, calves, and pigs) or valuable supplementary feeds that make animals healthier and more vital.
When procuring raw materials, we pay attention not only to high quality, availability, and price but also to many sustainability parameters, for example, how these raw materials reach us. Thanks to our own rail tracks, the components for agricultural feedstuffs are transported directly to our factory site in Kleinheubach in an environmentally friendly way.
Fresh air and lofty heights
Air pollution or unpleasant odours are taboo at ERBACHER the food family! To prevent unpleasant odours from escaping during animal feed production, we use a biofilter to ensure fresh air. The concept is as ingenious as it is simple: a bed of wood chips cleans the exhaust air with the help of bacteria. The water vapour that escapes is virtually odourless. This keeps our neighbours in the Kleinheubach community happy. Our warehouse sticks out as a local landmark. The high-bay warehouse in Kleinheubach, built from regional timber, stands proudly as an impressive example of sustainability.
We play it safe
Our ERBACHER the food family laboratory
A product that is both high quality, and safe for animals and humans is paramount for us. That's why we run our own in-house laboratory. We are accredited in accordance with DIN EN ISO 17025 , and our laboratory analysis sets a quality standard that is unique in the industry. We start our work as soon as we receive the raw materials and have set up a close-meshed control system throughout the entire production, packaging, and storage process. Samples are analysed and documented at all these different stages to ensure the quality of our products and the safety of our customers.
Rethinking packaging
Because packaging matters
Packaging fulfils a variety of tasks. It preserves the good quality of food and animal feed and at the same time offers protection against damage, spoilage, and environmental influences. Furthermore, the product’s packaging must be selected in such a way that it meets logistical requirements for transport. The packaging labels serve as an orientation for the customer, and also contain important legal information about the product.
We are extremely conscious of the importance of sustainability and environmental compatibility regarding packaging. Therefore, we always endeavour to use only as much material as necessary and as little as possible to conserve valuable resources. Over many years, we have worked with our suppliers to continuously develop our packaging materials to make them as thin as possible. All this, of course, without losing sight of product protection.
By switching our 15 kg bags of dog food to 12.5 kg and 10 kg, we save over 5 tonnes of packaging material every year. To give you an idea, that's the equivalent weight of around 10,000 dachshunds.
Greenhouse gas emissions of ERBACHER the food family
The production of food for humans and animals generates CO2 and other greenhouse gases, such as nitrogen oxides. As environmental protection is important to us, we monitor exactly where and in what quantities the emissions are produced.
We are already successfully achieving this for the Scope 1 and 2 emissions that occur directly at our site in Kleinheubach. In addition, we have also set out to analyse Scope 3 emissions, which are far more difficult to quantify, and to implement measures to avoid and reduce them. In recent years, we have been able to save a lot of CO2 emissions through intelligent energy utilisation, smart purchasing of raw materials and improving our production processes.
We compensate for emissions we cannot avoid, or reduce, through the UN REDD+ forest conservation project 'Ntakata Mountains'. Learn more >>
Become a family member?
Welcome on board!
With more than 1000 employees worldwide, we are an extended family. Every member of the family should feel at home. That's why we focus on appreciation, trust, job security and real perspectives. We live and breathe the concept of New Work (Work 4.0), as well as team spirit. Our benefits go far beyond free fruit baskets, snacks and the usual workplace extras. Fancy a job with a future? Then you've come to the right place!
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