31 January 2024
As we embark on a new year, we reflect on our sustainability journey and the remarkable strides we’ve made in 2023. At East-West Seed, we are committed to making tangible and impactful progress through actionable steps, no matter how small.
Sustainable Farming Practices
We have implemented 100% crop rotation in our farms in the Philippines and India, covering 300 hectares with green manuring. By offering training and support and working alongside smallholder farmers in their fields, we help farmers improve crop yields and adopt sustainable farming and business practices.
Renewable Energy Adoption
We have bolstered our renewable energy capacity by implementing solar panels across our seven processing plants to 2.1 MW. This initiative reduced our carbon footprint and resulted in yearly cost savings of US$170,000.
Plastic Waste Management
With the aim to eliminate 100% of single-use plastic mulch in our own farms, we have made significant progress in plastic mulch management this year. In the Philippines, our onsite recycling initiatives have converted 50% of waste into valuable trellis. Our commitment extends to global initiatives, such as training farmers across our seed production countries on responsible disposal of plastic waste. So far, we have trained 5,000 farmers.
Our group-wide #PlasticFreePioneerChallenge was a resounding success, where 1.6 MT of plastic was collected and handed over to recyclers, further contributing to the significant reduction of single-use plastic bottles across all EWS offices.
Sustainable Packaging
We have transitioned around 20,000 seed packages to nature-themed brown packaging, achieving 100% implementation in India, the Philippines, and Vietnam. This initiative has had a positive impact overall in terms of recyclability.
ESG Award
In November 2023, East-West Seed earned the prestigious ESG Business Award for Adoption of Renewable Energy. We have been recognised for our successful transition to green energy with our rooftop solar installations in our seed processing facilities in India, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Tanzania, and our farm irrigation in Guatemala.
As we look forward to 2024, we remain dedicated to pushing boundaries, innovating, adopting sustainable farming practices, and driving positive change for the people and the planet.
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