Royal Cosun Accelerates Sustainability with Major CO₂ Cuts Across Dutch Production Sites

Royal Cosun is strengthening the sustainability of its Dutch production sites through a combination of regional and national agreements. Together, these initiatives will deliver substantial reductions in CO₂, nitrogen and ammonia emissions, improve local air quality and reinforce the future resilience of the Dutch agrifood sector.

Limburg Agreement Delivers Direct Regional Benefits

Through a unique sustainability agreement with the Province of Limburg, the national government and other partners, Aviko Rixona in Venray and Aviko in Lomm are fully committing to smart, low-emission technologies. The deployment of e-boilers, heat pumps and green gas installations will reduce CO₂ emissions in Limburg by 30,000 tonnes per year, contributing to cleaner air and a healthier living environment.

The Province of Limburg underlines that this agreement demonstrates how regional cooperation with industry can accelerate climate goals while strengthening the local economy and improving quality of life for residents.

Tailor-Made Agreement with the Dutch State

At national level, the Dutch State has entered into a binding tailor-made agreement with Royal Cosun and will contribute up to €73 million (USD 85.6 million) to accelerate the future-proofing of Cosun’s production processes. The agreement covers large-scale electrification at Cosun sites in Vierverlaten (Groningen) and Steenderen (Gelderland), alongside expanded production of certified green gas in Venray (Limburg). 

Sophie Hermans, Minister of Climate and Green Growth:

"With these investments, Cosun is taking a big step towards making its production facilities future-proof. This financial support not only contributes to making industrial production in the Netherlands more sustainable, we also provide a solid foundation for important agricultural value chains, which is pure profit."

Major CO₂ Reductions by 2030

By 2030, the tailor-made agreement is expected to reduce CO₂ emissions by 167 kilotonnes compared to the 2018–2021 reference period. This reduction is comparable to the annual natural gas consumption of approximately 70,000 households.

Although Royal Cosun is not among the 20 largest CO₂ emitters in the Netherlands, the government deliberately selected the cooperative because of its strong position in the agrifood sector and its ability to make a meaningful contribution to the transition towards a low-carbon industry.

Improved Air Quality and Reduced Nitrogen Emissions

In addition to CO₂ reductions, the agreement will deliver a combined 44-tonne annual reduction in nitrogen emissions across the three production locations. In Groningen alone, ammonia emissions will decrease by 42 tonnes per year, reducing odour nuisance and improving air quality for surrounding communities.

Thierry Aartsen, State Secretary for Public Transport and the Environment:

"This tailor-made agreement is a wonderful example of how a healthy economy and a healthy living environment can go hand in hand. Less emissions of ammonia and nitrogen oxides means less odour nuisance and better air quality for local residents. It is good that the government can support an ambitious company like Cosun to accelerate its sustainability efforts. It shows that the tailor-made approach delivers a win-win-win."

Cosun: Sustainability as a Core Business Strategy

Hans Meeuwis, CEO of Cosun:

"At Cosun, we are building a future-proof, sustainable company. Three elements are crucial for this: a strong revenue model, a relevant plant-based portfolio and a future-proof chain. Tailor-made approaches, cooperation with the government and preconditions to remain competitive are indispensable in order to achieve our sustainability goals in a responsible manner."

A Strong Signal to the Agrifood Sector

Together, the regional Limburg agreement and the national tailor-made deal send a strong signal to the wider agrifood and industrial sectors. By combining regional action with national support, Royal Cosun is demonstrating how climate ambitions, industrial competitiveness and a healthier living environment can be advanced simultaneously.