ANIMAL WELFARE & ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

Animal Welfare at Großfurtner

Each of our employees is aware of his/her great responsibility regarding respectful interaction with the animals entrusted to us. This is ensured not only by ongoing training courses, but also by continuous internal and external inspections. In accordance with clearly defined high standards, the animals are treated as species-appropriate as possible before and during slaughter. Accordingly, attention is already paid to shortest possible transport routes upon delivery in state-of-the-art, animal-friendly vehicles. Of course, the health of the delivered animals is checked by external veterinarians.

The internal processes, from unloading to stabling to stunning, are likewise examined regularly regarding animal protection requirements. This is also done in cooperation with external organisations specialising in animal welfare. Thanks to such intensive cooperation, we have been able to develop an electrical stunning system that is unique in Austria, ensuring effective stunning quality for pigs and reducing stress.

We see these ongoing process optimisations, including in terms of animal welfare, as an essential factor for our commitment to excellent quality.

OUT OF A SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY TO THE ENVIRONMENT

Social Responsibility

The Innviertel offers our company valuable locational advantages in many respects, from qualified employees to the regional origin of the animals. At Großfurtner, we are aware of this and take this into account by making great efforts to continually minimise the harmful environmental effects we cause. This is achieved, among other things, by innovations in production and by using technological solutions that allow the most energy-efficient operation possible. Since 2003, for example, 75 percent of our slaughterhouse waste can be recycled to gas and power in our own biogas plant in St. Martin. In 2010, Großfurtner received the Energy Globe Award for this innovation.

The Phönix Waste Management Award was presented to our company in 2010 as well The Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management and the Austrian Water and Waste Management Association are thus honouring exemplary projects that innovatively contribute to waste prevention and sustainable resource management. At both locations in St. Martin and in Utzenaich, we use the waste heat from the electricity-intensive cooling systems for heat supply via a buffer storage. In addition, the waste heat also supplies the households of the direct catchment area in Utzenaich with district heat. In 2015, the cascading heat utilisation at the Utzenaich location was honoured with the Austrian State Prize for Environmental and Energy Technology. Moreover, the environmental management system of Großfurtner is certified according to ISO 14001. Apart from this, we provide farmers in the region with valuable liquid manure that helps to reduce the use of artificial fertiliser from energy-intensive production.

We also continue to see it as our task to consistently work on improvements for a sustainable future.