"Serving the Earth", from purpose to reason for action

At the end of a co-construction approach lasting over three years which involved employees, the Executive Committee and the Youth Executive Committee, representatives of upstream agriculture and the stakeholder committee, Avril has defined its purpose: “Serving the Earth”.

This purpose is in line with Avril’s mission: create sustainable value in the oil and protein sectors, and thus contribute to better food for people and preservation of the Planet.

It guides the Group’s strategic orientations and nurtures its new ambition: to be the leader in plant processing solutions for the agricultural, food and environmental transitions.

Text transcript

At Avril, we're there for others. For people, for industries, for territories, for the earth. We are the furrow, the link. At our roots and thousands of miles away. We work for them. We work for mankind. To nourish him with the best of nature. To offer him greener energies and the benefits of plant-based chemistry. We work for those who cultivate the land and transform it. For our industries, which we are making as efficient as possible. And we want them to be even more daring tomorrow. We work for the earth. To protect its resources and all forms of life. To feed people and nature. To nourish businesses and ideas. Avril exists to develop, to uplift, to strengthen. To put into action. And to win. We're here to serve the earth.

AVRIL'S CONTRIBUTION TO TODAY'S CHALLENGES

For Avril, “Serving the Earth” means helping to meet two major challenges: the climate emergency and population growth, which is putting more pressure than ever on our Planet’s resources. Taking on these challenges means we have to change our eating habits, our farming practices and our energy choices. Avril is extending its historic mission with a purpose that reaffirms its power to act.

With its unique model and the nature of its activities, the Group is a committed actor, serving the transitions. This purpose thus expresses how Avril intends to pursue its development in a sustainable manner, create value for the industry and strengthen its contribution to society.

Jean-PhilippePuig

CEO of Avril SCA 

"We have given ourselves a purpose to share a clear and collective vision and to be able to explain, in simple terms, who we are and our pride in working for Avril."

"SERVING THE EARTH": THE MANIFESTO

At Avril, we are here for others.

For men and women. For our sectors.

For our regions. And for the Earth.

We are the furrow, the common ground.

From our roots to every point of the compass, our work is all for them.

We work for people, feeding them with the best Nature has to offer, providing greener energies and the benefit of plant-based science.

We work for those who cultivate, transform or reinvent the soil. For our sectors, which we make stronger today to be even bolder tomorrow.

We work for our planet, to protect its resources and all living systems.  Nurturing Humanity and Nature. Nurturing businesses and ideas.

Avril exists to grow.

To enhance. To strengthen. To set in motion.

To enable everyone to thrive.

We exist to  Serve the Earth.

Laila Mamou

Chair of the Avril Stakeholders Committee

With the help of the committee members, I will endeavor to pursue the efforts already undertaken, and to initiate a dynamic that will help us to communicate on structural issues, and to monitor, alongside Avril, the responses implemented. I firmly believe in the benefits of Avril's approach of putting together a long-term and committed stakeholder committee, and we will strive to continueto develop its positive influence for the Group and for society.

6 COMMITMENTS FOR CONCRETE & TRANSFORMATIVE ACTION

With the current challenges facing us, this purpose places obligations on us. That’s why we have chosen six action priorities that commit us on a daily basis. “Serving the Earth” is…

… taking action for agriculture that respects the planet.

Because we believe in a form of agriculture that feeds people while respecting the Planet, we are committed to being the link with producers that allows for dialogue and builds solutions, for healthy food and fair pay for farmers' work.

… taking action to protect natural resources and biodiversity.

Because we will continue to import agricultural raw materials that cannot be produced locally and come from countries at risk of deforestation or conversion of endangered ecosystems, we are committed to ensuring that 100% of our palm and soya supplies come from sustainable agriculture by 2030.

… taking action to develop local sectors.

Because we care about keeping our regions dynamic, we are committed to speeding up the development of the local supply chains in all our fields of activity, from 2025 for 100% of our edible oils when the raw materials exist locally.

… taking action for our investments' impact.

Because we want to have a positive impact on the regions and the environment, we are committed to ensuring that by 2030, 100% of our investments, whether industrial or financial, are based on economic, environmental and social criteria.

… taking action for the Climate.

Because we support the United Nations' objective of limiting global warming to 2°C, which is part of the Paris Agreements, we are committed to reducing all our direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by 2030 (vs. reference year 2019).

… taking action for a collective and inclusive project.

Because we believe in the strength of the collective, which is the origin of our model and our governance, we are committed to maintaining a constant and demanding dialogue with all our stakeholders.

TRANSFORMING THROUGH OUR ACTION MODEL

“Serving the Earth” is rooted in the four dimensions that define the uniqueness of Avril’s model, dimensions that together contribute to the effective implementation of each commitment.

CONNECT WITH CONFIDENCE

Avril is a collective effort, the thread that connects upstream to downstream, the farmer to the plate, which brings together all sector players thanks to the work of our employees, to help them grow, improve performance and efficiency and meet the expectations of our customers and consumers. Avril is also a company where trust lies at the heart of our interactions

SHARE THE VALUE

As Avril's founders so desired, the Group reinvests its profits in the sector, which enables it to become stronger year after year and nourish its organic and external growth. In-house, the Group is dedicated to organizing skills and knowledge transfer, to sharing best practices in the field; every manager has very clear perspectives as to the development of their employees.

TREASURE LIFE

Avril is at the heart of agricultural, food and environmental transitions. We develop remuneration models to promote sustainable agricultural practices, we develop local sectors in the regions where we are established, and we work alongside our livestock-farmer partners on their animal welfare concerns. Here, at Avril, we place the safety of people as our top priority and we consider their development and employability to be as important a responsibility as paying them fairly.

INVENT TOMORROW

Preparing the future, inventing solutions for sustainable growth that respects life, to meet the major challenges facing the planet. It is in our DNA: we were pioneers of biodiesel in the past, are currently a key oleochemistry player and will be pave the way for vegetable protein tomorrow. Audacity is one of our three values and every Avril employee is encouraged to take initiatives on a daily basis.

At Avril, « Serving the Earth » is our power and our duty.

Through these commitments, this purpose guides the way the Group acts and make decisions. “Serving the Earth” is a collective challenge which commits Avril in the long-term and worldwide, in the 19 countries where the Group is established.