Wasa, The World's Largest Crispbread Manufacturer, Achieves 100 Percent Carbon Neutrality

From field to shelf, Wasa reduces emissions to help combat global climate change

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Feb 26, 2019, 08:00 ET

NORTHBROOK, Ill., Feb. 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Wasa, the world's largest crispbread manufacturer, today announced that its global operations are 100 percent carbon neutral. Wasa compensates to zero carbon emissions by promoting renewable energy and rainforest preservation in accordance with international standards. This achievement makes Wasa the first crispbread brand to achieve 100 percent carbon neutrality.

"We're proud to continue honoring our core values and commitment to the environment by stepping up for the planet and achieving carbon neutrality," said Jean-Pierre Comte, President, Barilla Americas. "With Wasa celebrating our 100^th anniversary this year, it's more important than ever to continue looking to the future and ensuring we're making a positive impact for generations to come."

Since 2010, Wasa has been working to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by measuring and reducing its carbon footprint through the entire product lifecycle. Key initiatives implemented in recent years include increasing the use of rail logistics for efficient delivery of ingredients and products, launching several energy-saving projects, as well as buying electrical energy from renewable sources guaranteed by origin certificates, and the use of verified emissions reduction credits (VER).

"We want people to know that when they choose Wasa, they're not only making a healthy lifestyle choice, but a sustainable choice from a brand that's taking action on climate change," said Comte.

The two main carbon compensation projects Wasa supports are a rainforest protection project in Peru, which is one of the world's biodiversity hot spots, and a solar energy project in India, helping to provide solar energy access in rural areas of the country. These projects were chosen after a careful evaluation of their real impact on climate change and local communities. Additionally, these initiatives help bring social, environmental and economic benefits that are in line with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

For more information, please visit www.wasaCO2.com or contact:

Stephanie Garris
[email protected]
847-405-7500

Karli Nutter
[email protected]
312-245-0159

About the Wasa Brand
Since 1919 Wasa is the biggest crispbread baker in the world, selling its products in 40 different countries, from Scandinavia to America. In 1999 Wasa became part of the Barilla Group together with many other bakery brands such as Mulino Bianco, Harry's and Pavesi. The Wasa Bakeries are situated in Filipstad Sweden, and in Celle Germany. From these two locations we bake our crispbread and other products for many countries around the world. The biggest markets for the Wasa brand outside of Sweden are the other Nordic countries and Germany closely followed by Poland, The Netherlands, France and The United States of America.

About the Barilla Group
Founded 140 years ago in Parma out of a shop that made bread and pasta, Barilla is today among the top Italian food groups: leader for pasta in the world, pasta sauces in continental Europe, bakery products in Italy, and the crisp bread business in Scandinavia. The Barilla Group owns 28 production sites (14 in Italy and 14 abroad) and exports to more than 100 countries. Every year, its plants turn out around 1,700,000 tons of food products that are consumed on tables all over the world, under the following brand names: Barilla, Mulino Bianco, Harrys, Pavesi, Wasa, Filiz, Yemina e Vesta, Misko, Voiello, Academia Barilla.

When the first shop opened in 1877, Pietro Barilla focused on making good food. Today, this has evolved into a unique way of doing business for the Barilla Group: "Good for You, Good for the Planet."

"Good for You" means constantly improving our products, motivating people to adopt healthy lifestyles and improving food access and social inclusion. "Good for the Planet" means promoting sustainable supply chains and reducing the amount of CO2 we emit and water we consume during production.

SOURCE Wasa