Italian food giant Barilla Group is stepping up its sustainability targets, including seeking to source 250,000 tonnes of raw materials from certified regenerative agriculture by the end of the decade.
Announcing its latest Sustainability Report, Barilla said that it already sources 815,000 tonnes of raw materials from farms aligned with its sustainable farming programmes on durum wheat, common wheat, rye, and basil, and in the years ahead, it will encourage a transition to regenerative agriculture practices.
Education remains core to the company’s vision, with initiatives like Accademia Basilico training farmers in sustainable basil cultivation.
Energy target
Other targets set by the group including managing a total of 24 MW worth of energy from photovoltaic systems at its facilities by 2030, up from the current 4 MW that has been installed over the past five years. Barilla already gets 48% of its electricity from renewable sources.
Elsewhere, it is also targeting a 250% increase in recycled and reused water in water-stressed areas, again by the end of the decade.
‘Commitment and passion’
“The road will be long and complex as always, but thanks to the commitment and passion of our people we are ready to continue the journey with the same intensity and determination with which we began,” commented Guido, Luca and Paolo Barilla.
Barilla was recently recognised for the second year in a row as the world’s most reputable food company by Global RepTrak 100.
In terms of social sustainability, Barilla achieved gender pay equity in 2020 and offers all parents, regardless of gender or marital status, at least 12 weeks of fully paid leave. Women now comprise 35% of executives and managers, with the company aiming to grow this to 40% by 2030.
When it comes to product formulation, meanwhile, Barilla said that in 2024, some 88% of its products had no more than 5 grams of sugar and 0.5 grams of salt per serving, while 90% were a source of dietary fibre.
Elsewhere, last year, Barilla also donated over 3,700 tonnes of food and more than €2 million to support communities. Read more here.
