Sustainability

Innovation and environment

The choices we make today at Royal Berry shape the world we live in tomorrow. Since 2010 we have been thinking about how to reduce the impact on the climate, how to use the world’s resources more efficiently and to do business more responsibly for our strawberry cultivation.

Renewable energy

Solar

Our energy is generated sustainably as much as possible. There are hundreds of solar panels at our locations that generate 1,300,000 kWh of solar energy per year.

Combined Heat Power installation (CHP)

Since 2021, we have been able to heat our greenhouses with the residual heat from our own power plants, combined heat and power (CHPs). As a result, we no longer use boilers that were traditionally used in horticulture. With our CHPs we generate electricity that is supplied back to the public grid. As a result, other gas and coal-fired power stations need to produce less electricity and this results in less CO2 and heat emissions. The heat released by our CHPs is used to heat the greenhouses and to grow strawberries. The CO2 emissions are also used to optimize the photosynthesis process of the plants in the greenhouses. This is in contrast to many other combustion plants where the flue gases released are not pure enough to be dosed to plants.

With the CHPs, Royal Berry supplies a total of 22,500,000 kWh of electricity per year to the public grid, on top of the 1,300,000 kWh of solar energy per year that we generate. With all this, we can supply about 9,500 households with electricity. In addition, our machines are prepared for the future use of hydrogen.

100% closed water system

Good water is very important in the cultivation of strawberries. At Royal Berry, the greenhouses have been connected to 100% closed water systems since 2010, so that no fertilizers end up in the surface water. This is done by means of rainwater and drain collection, fresh irrigation water from the central irrigation pond and reuse of water. This guarantees continuity and operational reliability at Royal Berry for the future.

Pink LED lighting

In 2021, Royal Berry invested in a brand new LED cultivation system to be able to grow delicious sweet strawberries in winter in a sustainable way. The innovative pink lamps are used by the plant during photosynthesis to produce the same amount of sugars with less energy. The energy of the lamps is generated by our own CHP installation. The electricity generated and the heat and CO2 released as a result are used for the cultivation of the Sonata and Sonsation varieties, which are very suitable for strawberry cultivation under light.

Ecological balance

Bio pollination

A good ecological balance in the greenhouses is of great importance. At Royal Berry, millions of bumblebees and bees fly from the pistils to the flower bed to pollinate the pollen. After fertilization, the receptacle grows into a strawberry. This saves a lot of work and is good for the environment!

Green crop protection

At Royal Berry, we are committed to minimizing crop protection in our crops. Where possible, we combat diseases, pests and fungi with biological agents. We continuously invest in research into solutions to replace harmful substances with green alternatives. For example, we combat harmful insects such as whiteflies, spider mites and thrips in our greenhouses by using natural enemies.

Green CO2

If there is no demand for heat and electricity, we buy liquid CO2. This green CO2 is captured, cleaned and liquefied from household waste at the AVR waste incinerator in Duiven.

Packaging

The Royal Berry R-PET packaging is made from 100% recycled material and is also 100% recyclable. R-PET has the lowest CO2 emissions compared to other materials. In addition, our packaging has better ventilation for a longer shelf life.