ECOTONE announces an investment of € 20 million to meet the growing demand for plant-based beverages in the European market

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May 18, 2022

ECOTONE publication 20 million euros investment To meet growing demand for Plant-based beverage In the European market

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Plant-based beverage factory 4.0

Ecotone enables production by investing in Ecotone’s Italian base and developing new production lines Another 27 million lightsres Annual plant-based beverage – 30% increase in production capacity.

This large investment is part of the Group’s strategy to focus on innovation and automation and increase the competitiveness of its production sites while promoting sustainability throughout the business.

Investment has been focused on automation, including the implementation of an internal pallet flow management system with laser-guided vehicles, with the aim of making the Badia Polageine site the flagship of Industry 4.0.

Reorganization of factory production workshops will also enable increased automation –
When 50% of this is Intralogistics There is a fully automated production flow between bottling and loading pallets onto trucks without the need for human intervention. In the new installation, to allow for more efficient palletizing, Use of plastic by 15% And optimize transportation 58 tons of CO2 emissions..

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Ecotone, which has been operating on the Badia Polageine site since 1993, has selected a location as close as possible to the production basin of the organic raw materials needed to manufacture the product.

A factory that manufactures organic plant-based beverages for brands such as Bjorg, Bonneterre, Isola Bio, Abbott Kinney’s and EcoCesta. Currently employs 163 people Over 14,000 sites across^m2Has become one of the largest production bases in Europe of this kind.

On five production lines, 120 million liters of vegetable beverages are shipped from the factory each year.

With the investment made in the last three years to raise production to Industry 4.0 standards and the opening of additional production lines 32 New arrival work position, Mainly in technology and R & D functions. As production increases, more adoption is expected.

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With that valuable know-how, the Badia Porezin Factory Europe’s Outstanding Center for Research and Development Of plant-based beverages. Ecotone, firmly anchored in a promising market with great growth opportunities, 20 years of experience In the manufacture of plant-based beverages.

Ecotone, a player enthusiastic about environmental and biodiversity conservation

Ecotone, a company with a B-Corp accredited mission, aims to take a more demanding and exemplary approach to CSR.Some of that latest investment Dedicated to improvement Of the factory Energy performance..

Production sites operating solely on renewable energy also have sustainable solutions, including the implementation of the following systems: Perfect roundness of waterThis allows industrial wash water to be biologically treated with activated sludge and reused in agricultural production processes. An innovative co-generator that recovers energy from the factory’s production process also supplies 40% of that energy to the site.

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To carry out the mission of “Food for Biodiversity”, Ecotone 100 producers Also 4,500 hectares of 100% organic farmingIt is cultivated throughout Italy without the use of pesticides, herbicides, pesticides or fertilizers.

Ecotone is committed to developing agroecological methods that go beyond organic specifications (hedge planting, crop rotation, birdhouse installation in fields), promoting more biodiversity and promoting more biodiversity. 35 plant speciesStimulates the biodiversity and dietary diversity cultivated in this way.

Christophe Barnouin, CEO Ecotone, Said:
“This large investment is aimed at strengthening ECotone’s industrial competitiveness in the growing market for plant-based beverages. Like its brand, it has a strong presence throughout Europe, Nine Production site including 2 Ecotone in France Working on With that value Lead The road to further innovation and sustainability in the food industry.I want to pay homage to the unwavering mobilization The team of the last three years that made the project successful and made it possible to create Badia Polesine
plant
European industrial flagship.. “

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Press contact:

Emily Loenbach – emilie.lowenbach@ecotone.bio

00 33 6 11 23 37 69

About ecotone

Ecotone is a European leader in organic, vegetarian and fair trade foods. Its mission is to foster biodiversity through powerful and dedicated brands such as Allos, Alter Eco, Bjorg, Bonneterre, Clipper, Destination, Danival, El Granero, Isola Bio, Kallø, Whole Earth and Zonnatura. In 2019, it was the first food company in Europe to obtain BCorp certification. The corporate family is located in six European countries and is headquartered near Lyon. With 1600 employees, it achieved sales of € 725 million in 2021. Through the Foundation, the company supports ecosystem restoration and conservation projects.

www.ecotone.bio

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