Our environmental footprint

(103-1) For Grupo Empresarial GreenLand, respect for the environment and responsible use of natural resources are part of our premises focus on protecting and preserving biodiversity through good agricultural practices which allow the maintenance ecosystems and, at the same time, provide integrated development of our production activities.

This is why we put into effect actions to protect, preserve, and provide integrated management of environmental impacts. These actions will ensure that the company will endure over time, taking into account the expectations of our stakeholders and the timely management of risks.

(103-2) As part of our environmental actions, we defined guidelines which show the objectives we want to achieve in the medium and long term, and we implemented responsible actions to decrease our environmental impact. We are committed to the protection and restoration of the habitat to have better environmental conditions in those territories where we operate, and to develop the business in an integrated manner.

To achieve the reduction of impacts, we carry out responsible actions, such as measuring the carbon footprint, from which plans and strategies are derived in the short and medium term; the care of water sources, the use of renewable energies and the proper management of waste.

Biodiversity

Water management

Energy management

Emissions management and climate change

Waste management

(103-3) Our environmental commitment is in force and we continue to comply with the requirements of the legal environmental authorities. We renew or permits for discharges and concessions. We create awareness among our employees about the efficient use of water, the protection of fauna, the proper waste separation and disposal.

We fulfill our commitments and follow the principles to keep our certifications. We received our environmental, social, and best practices audits. More than just complying with the regulations and certifications, we live, internalize and work committed to our Good practices to help us achieve continuous improvement, with a focus on maintaining a responsible value chain.

Biodiversity (304-3)

Our Operations are located in ecosystems that include low, dense, floodplain forests, riparian forests, and fragmented forests. Due to their rich biodiversity they must be preserved to guarantee the sustainability of the territories and, therefore, of the organization that uses these ecosystems.

We are committed to raising the level of knowledge, conservation, and enrichment of these natural habitats.

588,33 hectares dedicated to conservation

8% of the total farm area

6.531 trees planted, twice the goal for 2020

Some the species we planted to protect the ecosystems are: Weinmannia tormentosa, yellow guaiacum, Cedar, native Bayberry, Dragon tree, oak, tibouchina lepidota, Chagual, Mimosa, Bucaro, carbonaria, and willow, among others.

There have been sightings animal sightings and forms. The species we have seen are hawks, hares, ant eaters, boa constrictor, sloths, titi monkeys, blue crabs, iguanas, howler monkeys, and others.

To continue our plan for reforestation and embellishment inside and outside our farms, we have built small nurseries to help propagate plant material. Additionally, we are constantly providing training for our teams on the topics of fauna and flora protection and conservation

Water management (303-1) (303-3)

We careful control of water resources, we ensure the longterm survival of the business and the availability of water for those stakeholders located near our operations.

Through our water management strategy, we contribute to the preservation of the quantity, quality and availability of this valuable resource for the ecosystem, as well as for neighboring communities.

Consumption

Groundwater is the main source of supply and it is extracted using well concessions. On a monthly basis, the environmental authorities monitor the impact of water extraction.

48 deep wells.

6.682.543 m3 of water taken from the source.

6.345.068 m3 taken from underground sources.

On a monthly basis, the efficient use of water is monitored and measured at every production location. This is analyzed according to the water concessions granted by Corporación Autónoma Regional. The volume of water used in the implementation and all farms of water recirculation plants, help meet the standards of the market and reduce water usage at the farms.

Water footprint

The method used to calculate the water footprint is standard ISO 140 46. To use this for Banacol, in 2020, we determined the blue, green, and gray footprints, from the water consumption of each of the headquarters. This took into account the source of the resource: aqueduct, ground water uptake, rain water, water supplied using tanker trucks, and recycled water, in addition to the waste water discharge.

Reuse

We use a water recycling process in order to efficiently use the water resource in our production.

For our productive and administrative processes, we use the best practices for appropriate management of discharged water.

202.834 m3 of recycled water.

123.168 m3 Rain water stored in the reservoirs.

Energy management (305-1) (305-2) (305-4) (302-1) (302-3) (302-4)

Responsible energy use is a fundamental pillar for Grupo GreenLand. We are constantly working with equity efficiency processes trying to use less energy and improve costs. We manage strategies to reduce risks and take advantage of opportunities derived from the availability of energy and its proper use.

Together with EPM we have access to clean electricity service, we are part of a select group of companies that work with green energy, i.e., produced using 100% renewable sources, and this is supported through international renewable energy certificates (I-REC). We have EPM’s green energy seal as part of our environmental commitment by promoting the generation of electrical energy based on renewable sources.

2.968.843 kw/h energy consumption

Emissions management and climate change

Carbon footprint

One of our challenges is to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions.

Carbon footprint methodology

Scope 1 and Scope 2 carbon footprint emmissions include measurements of the following sources of emmissions:

Fuel use (diesel, gasoline, propane gas, marine diesel, jet fuel).
Use of refrigeration gases (R404A, R134A, R410A, R141B, R123).
Use of conventional electricity.
Use of fuel oils.
Use of welding gases.
Use of fire extinguishers.
Use of organic and synthetic fertilizers.
Decomposing organic materials in septic tanks.

20.004,361 TonCO2 eq
Scope 1: 19.517,471
Scope 2: 486,890

The commitment to maintain production processes that are protect the environment, in which the gasses emitted directly, for example, by using fossil fuels in the organization’s equipment or vehicles, and those who work for us, or from loss of refrigeration gases, or chemical reactions in the organization’s production processes, carried out using technology and selecting lower emission imputs, attempting to harmonize and synchronize the value generation activities with the raison d’être of the business and the environment.

Our vision of reducing our carbon footprint focuses on the following activities:

Reducing the use of synthetic fertilizers that produce higher emissions, and increase the amount of organic fertilizers, considering that they have less impact on greenhouse gas emissions.

Reduced the use of refrigerant gases which have higher impact on the footprint and start using friendlier gases in terms of tons of CO2 equivalents

Lower the use of electricity – set up efficient processes to save energy, and increase the amount of energy obtained from sources that have lower greenhouse gas emissions.

Look into the possibility of renewing the fleet of vehicles and/or make more efficient logistics processes because the emissions from Diesel fuel are significant in terms of the corporate carbon footprint.

Climate Change (201-2)

In 2020, we started the identification of risks we needed to claim a change so we could manage them. We started this analysis based on a study of scenarios for climate change published by IDEAM. The study estimated an increase in average temperature of around 0.13°C per decade for the period 1971 – 2000, and presented scenarios were climate change which project that the average air temperature in the country will increase compared to the. In reference as follows: 1.4°C for the period 2011- 2040, 2.4°C for the period 2041-2070 and 3.2°C for the period 2071-2100.

According to this study, the agricultural sector would be vulnerable, especially due to the increase in desertification. However, agricultural production not only depends on the climates – weather relationship but also on the relationship between climate and pests, climate and diseases, and the influence of climate on agricultural practices.

The impact of climate change on agriculture and human well-being include:

1. Biological effects on crop yields.
2. The consequences of their impact on results (including prices, production, and consumption).
3. Impacts on per capita consumption of calories, and child malnutrition.

Biophysical changes produced by climate change on agriculture lead to changes in production and prices that are reflected in the economic system as farmers and other market participants make their own adjustments, changing their mix of crops, use of inputs, production levels, food demand, food consumption, and trade.

It is estimated that the Urabá and Caldas regions will be among the affected areas.
Some of the expected impacts are:

Changes in behavior: these changes referred to changes in the reduction capacity of the soil, due to the change in thermal floors.
Shoreline erosion: it is expected that the shoreline erosion processes will increase due to the rise in sea level.
Degrees of the cultural productivity and loss of biodiversity.

Based on this analysis, we are designing a strategy that will enable us to identify risks and opportunities related to climate change, and set up adaptation and mitigation plans.

Waste management (306-2)

We are using our waste in a responsible manner. Thus, we can minimize the impact associated with waste disposal. The process of collection, disposal, recycling, and reuse of materials are everyday practices in Grupo Empresarial GreenLand. During 2020 we continue with our good waste collection and disposal practices.

126.541 kg
of ordinary waste delivered to landfills.

1.630 kg
of hazardous waste delivered to landfills.

(103-3) SUSTAINABILITY CHALLENGES AND GOALS 2021

Biodiversity

We continued with the reforestation programs along the easements from water sources to offsetting carbon footprint and climate change, for this purpose 6,000 trees were planted in the region of Urabá for this purpose.

Emissions management and climate change

We will replace the chemical load of protection products with agricultural sustainable solutions and bio stimulants for treatment and control of the black Sigatoka plague.
We will be implementing a mechanical weed control process and increasing the amount of global cover to decrease the use of herbicides by 5%.

Energy management

To contribute to energy efficiency and help climate change, we will implement:

We will implement a project to replace the airconditioning units in our administrative offices
in Banacol and Corporate Support – Envigado, which means energy efficiency that contributes to a lower energy consumption reflected by 45%, compared to the current one.
We will install solar panels in our production and administration facilities. This will represent 424 MWh of bars applied by the solar system, which represents 13% of the energy consumed by the headquarters from the start date of the photovoltaic system.

Water management

Implementation of actions for the efficient use of water.
Give continuity to the reforestation plan in the protection strips of the water sources, present in our crops.