What is the environmental footprint of a fruit juice? While the question may seem simple, answering it requires an extensive analysis. At AUSTRIA JUICE, we wanted to find out – because taking responsibility starts with knowing your impact.
Sustainability isn’t a far-off vision for us; it is an integral part of our corporate identity. That’s why we took an important step forward: together with an independent external partner, we assessed the Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) of three of our core products – apple, elderberry, and sour cherry juice concentrates.
As part of the AGRANA Group, we are committed to clearly defined climate targets. Our emission goals have been validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), including the aim to reduce Scope 3 emissions by around one-third by 2030. The majority of these upstream and downstream emissions come from fruit cultivation. The PEF is therefore a key tool for identifying specific reduction opportunities and improving our production processes in an environmentally effective way.
Beyond CO₂: A Holistic View of Environmental Impact
While the focus of the analysis is on the carbon footprint, we consciously went a step further. Producing our concentrates not only impacts the climate but also affects other environmental areas: water consumption, land use and fossil resource use, to name a few. This broader perspective is essential to fully understand environmental effects and develop effective alternatives – for instance, in choosing fertilizers with the lowest overall impact.
“CO₂ is just one part of the picture – we wanted to understand where our products have an impact, so we can focus our efforts where they bring the greatest environmental benefit.”
– Jörg Schultz, Director of Sustainability & Continuous Improvement | AUSTRIA JUICE
The calculations are based on primary data we collected ourselves – both in the field and in production. Over the summer, our agronomists worked closely with a representative sample of farmers to collect on-site data, including harvest volumes, use of plant protection products and fertilizers, diesel consumption and transport distances to the AUSTRIA JUICE plant. In parallel, consumption data from production was also collected – such as electricity and heat demand, water use, and use of process aids. All data had to be clearly assigned to the respective products to allow a precise representation of their environmental impact.
We have summarized the key figures on CO₂ emissions and other environmental impacts of the three juice concentrates below:
|
Impact category |
Reference unit |
1 kg apple juice concentrate (70 Brix) |
1 kg elderberry juice concentrate (65 Brix) | 1 kg sour cherry juice concentrate (65 Brix) |
| Climate change | kg CO2 eg | 0,644 | 4,640 | 5,240 |
| Resource use fossils |
MJ (net calorific) |
9 | 55 | 65 |
| Land use | dimensionless (pt) | 136 | 1027 | 1772 |
| Water use | m³ world eg | 0,218 | 0,656 | -11,665 |
Where We Stand Today – and What We Make of It
The system boundaries applied include the full process from the cultivation of raw materials to production at our Hungarian site (“cradle to gate”). Packaging and distribution were deliberately excluded, as they vary greatly depending on customer requirements and cannot be standardized. The methodology follows internationally recognized standards ISO 14040 and ISO 14044; a critical review by an independent third party confirms the validity of the results.
The results now provide us with a solid foundation. They were not intended to directly compare the three products – their cultivation and processing differ too much for that. Rather, they serve as a reference point: for future analyses at other AUSTRIA JUICE locations as well as for assessing the effectiveness of specific emission reduction measures. Currently, results are available for our production site in Hungary. More countries and products will follow.
Conclusion
The results of the Product Environmental Footprint provide us, for the first time, with a comprehensive picture of how our products impact the environment. They serve as a starting point for targeted improvements along the entire value chain. This foundation enables us to take the next step – guided by facts, driven by responsibility, and dedicated to making food production more sustainable.