Carbon Footprint

A comparison of our products

Our products generate very low CO₂ emissions

To better understand our carbon footprint, we have calculated the CO₂ emissions of our products using the globally recognised GHG Protocol. This calculation factors in every step, from raw material procurement to delivery and disposal. The result: Our products produce significantly less CO₂ than many other convenience meals. For example, a yfood Classic Drink only emits about a third of the CO₂ emissions of a burger with fries and salad. Why is that? Our products are mainly produced with local raw materials using green energy, meaning we are able to to save a lot of emissions in procurement and logistics alone.

We also pay attention to the CO₂ produced by our business activities

Not only have we analysed our products, but we have also analysed our emissions as a company – from our energy consumption to business trips, employee commutes to office supplies. At our Munich site with 181 employees, we emitted a total of 512.154 kg of CO₂ in 2022. That's only as much as the average emissions caused by 59 EU citizens each year. We achieve this by using regional green energy and short travel distances, as well as other measures.

We offset our carbon footprint

We follow the principle of avoiding unnecessary emissions, reducing existing emissions, and offsetting further emissions. After identifying our largest CO₂ sources and implementing appropriate reduction measures, we also offset additional emissions through certified climate protection projects.

What does carbon offsetting mean?

We fund internationally recognised climate-change mitigation projects to offset CO₂ emissions that we can't currently avoid or reduce. These projects absorb greenhouse gases (e.g., through reforestation initiatives) or replace climate-damaging technologies with climate-friendly alternatives (e.g., solar or wind plants), helping to reduce CO₂ emissions. In addition to avoidance and reduction, this offsetting is an important step in holistic climate action, contributing to the carbon neutrality of companies, processes, and products.

The climate neutral label

With our strategy, yfood is now certified as a carbon-neutral company. You can use the ID to monitor the amount of CO₂ we offset and learn about our climate-change mitigation projects. We prioritise total transparency and remain motivated to achieve even more in the future.

We support certified reforestation and wind energy projects

We offset our corporate emissions by supporting certified climate protection projects around the world.

Two projects in Nicaragua promote the reforestation of native bamboo trees and protect old-growth forests, transforming severely degraded landscapes into diverse ecosystems with strong CO₂ storage capacities. Another project in Uganda reduces pressure on natural forests through reforestation and enables more sustainable timber production. Together, these reforestation projects promote low-emission business practices and also support local community development. Additionally, we support a fourth project in India that expands a wind farm, utilizing regional natural resources to generate electricity in an environmentally friendly manner and address electricity shortages.

In total, the projects supported by ClimatePartner promote 15 of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). For more information about these projects and the SDGs, visit the ClimatePartner website.

Packaging

How we handle plastic responsibly

Why do we use plastic at all, you ask? Our packaging material must meet stringent requirements. This ensures maximum protection of our products from light and oxygen, preserving all their vitamins and minerals over an extended period. We continuously seek innovative materials, and so far, plastic remains the most effective choice for this purpose.

Our aim is to make yfood bottles entirely from recycled material

We strive to use plastic as efficiently and sparingly as possible, already reducing our packaging material by 10%. Its lightweight nature also contributes to saving CO₂ emissions in logistics. Currently, our yfood bottles are made from 30% recycled plastic, and we are actively working on a steady improvement of the recycled content. However, we are encountering challenges. Firstly, there needs to be a sufficient supply of recycled material in the market to justify the increased recycling proportion in our product pricing. Additionally, the recycled material used in our bottles must undergo thorough cleaning and processing to ensure product safety and effective packaging protection. We are dedicated to addressing these challenges and will provide updates on our progress.

We're preventing food waste.

We produce balanced, delicious meals with minimal food waste. Have you ever considered that few other healthy alternatives to ready meals generate so little food waste? In Germany alone, 13 million tonnes of food end up in bins annually. We utilize 97% of the raw materials in our drinks and 100% in our powders by meticulously planning our production processes to maximise resource efficiency.

Furthermore, most of our products have a shelf life of a year, significantly reducing long-term food waste. Our ingredients are predominantly sourced from Europe, with a few exceptions due to local availability and changing supply dynamics worldwide.

Certified since 2023. Top B-Corp score for yfood.

We are particularly proud of our certification as a B Corp company. This officially aligns us with a group of companies that meet high social and environmental standards. Exciting, right?