Optimising the cultivation

of microalgae used in

biobased products

Our acquisition of a photo-

bioreactor has enabled the

development of biobased

products to enter a new phase.

This state-of-the-art facility creates

a controlled environment in which

to grow photosynthetic micro-

organisms, enabling the Roullier

World Innovation Centre (CMI)

to achieve the optimum conditions

for algal culture through the

ability to precisely regulate light,

temperature, pH and nutrients.

This technology will prove essential

in shaping the specif ic features of

tomorrow’s biobased products

with benef icial properties that can

be tailored to the needs of growers

by enabling tailormade sustainable

closed-circuit cultivation.

Imposing increasingly demanding

standards on raw materials

As the f irst link in our value chain, the

choices we make about the raw materials

we use and the way we process them

play a major role in the accreditation of

our product ranges. Identifying the raw

materials of tomorrow on the basis of their

ability to meet our environmental, ethical

and resource-eff icient requirements is

therefore a challenge all of its own.

Seeking out the raw materials of tomorrow

For a Group that prides itself on offering high added-

value products that simultaneously meet customer

expectations and benef it every link in the value

chain, careful selection of raw materials is crucially

important. The major challenge lies in building supply

chains that provide guaranteed access to products

that can be sourced sustainably, and add value to

them such that they deliver additional gains that

current manufacturing processes cannot match.

Each of the new raw materials we research is judged

against a series of key criteria, including positive

environmental impact, agronomic and economic

performance and supply chain dependability. The

issues and priorities for action differ depending on the

features specif ic to each activity, but in all cases, they

must make a positive contribution to delivering the

transition�

Prioritising French ingredients

for our food industry activities

In the food sector, our Pâtisseries Gourmandes

and Maison Colibri subsidiaries market products

that ref lect the authentic character of French

terroir and embody their commitment to sourcing

local ingredients produced in accordance with

sustainable cultivation principles�

So wherever possible, both brands prioritise primary

ingredients originating in France, or preferably from

Brittany whenever possible.

Another excellent illustration of our responsible

sourcing policy is that Pâtisseries Gourmandes has

doubled the percentage of free range eggs used to

make its cakes and biscuits over the last f ive years,

and aims to increase that contribution to 100%

by 2025. Consistent with its premium positioning,

Maison Colibri used only French free-range eggs

in 2023.

Promoting the circular economy

Determined to diversify our sourcing of recycled

and/or organic materials not previously recovered

from the manufacturing processes of sectors such

as the food and seafood processing industries, or

organic materials from urban activities, we draw on

the expert skills at CMI Roullier to help our individual

activities take advantage of circular benef its.

Magnesitas Navarras provides yet another illustration

of our interest in using raw materials compatible

with circular economy practices. Working closely

with steelmakers and research centres, our Spanish

subsidiary Magnesitas Navarras has developed

solutions for refractory applications using materials

that were previously considered waste.

Lever 1

86%

of the TOP 5

ingredients used

(eggs, f lour, sugar,

butter and oil) are

produced in France

+ 35%

increase in the

percentage of recycled

raw materials used in

our refractory products

(compared with 2022)

Deep Purple: a new concept

for recycling urban organic

materials

Deep Purple is revolutionising the Deep Purple is revolutionising the

recycling of urban biowaste by recycling of urban biowaste by

recovering wastewater, sewage recovering wastewater, sewage

sludge and the organic fraction of sludge and the organic fraction of

municipal solid waste.municipal solid waste.

Unlike incineration and landf ill, Unlike incineration and landf ill,

this concept enables integrated this concept enables integrated

treatment of material f lows for the treatment of material f lows for the

benef it of the entire sector. Trialled benef it of the entire sector. Trialled

at two sites in Europe, it combines at two sites in Europe, it combines

optimised recovery technologies optimised recovery technologies

with innovative solutions, such with innovative solutions, such

as wastewater treatment using as wastewater treatment using

phototrophic bacteria and phototrophic bacteria and

bioconversion of biogas.bioconversion of biogas.

These processes ensure These processes ensure

a sustainable supply of biomass a sustainable supply of biomass

and high-quality fertilisers at the end and high-quality fertilisers at the end

of the recycling chain. of the recycling chain.

Non-Financial Performance Statement 2023 15