Improving our handling and sorting of waste is a continuous priority for LSG. Increasing our sorting grade of waste for reuse and material will greatly impact our environment through reduction of unwanted, hazardous and non-biodegradable waste in the environment . 

In late 2022 LSG signed a corporate agreement with one waste handling company in Norway to handle all waste from our operations in Norway. This will significantly increase our waste handling Management opportunities and secure that our waste is treated in the most sustainable manner possible. The agreement will also ensure that the data quality of reported waste and treatment method is better. An automated transfer of data to our Environmental accounting system (Cemasys) is in place which will also result in a decrease in manual labour connected to reporting.

Throughout the year we communicate through different forums with our stakeholders to discuss our immediate -and potential impacts regarding waste. It is important that we get input from our stakeholders on what they find important and are concerned about so that we can improve our waste handling and implement best practices. Our waste handling company in Norway are for example involved in, and have give input on how we have formulated our KPI on recycling.  

Using one strategic partner for all our waste handling in Norway will significantly influence how the local and central management works with waste. It will also give us the opportunity to better influence how -and what happens with our waste fractions. We see several opportunities in the future to strengthen our engagement and commitment to increase our degree of recirculation within the group, also outside of Norway. We are looking at the possibility to expand this strategic agreement to also include Scandinavian countries where we have operations.

The Corporate agreement with one waste handling company in Norway has:

1) resulted in better reporting functionality

3) resulted in an infrastructure to handle and maintain service for all our locations in Norway

4) resulted in a clear strategy for recycling

5) Resulted in increased knowledge and knowhow regarding waste sorting and treatment

6) Given us new ways to communicate with stakeholder and other third party organizations through the waste handling company. 

Next year a new EU directive on waste handling will be applicable for our operations. New targets for diverting waste from disposal is included in the directive. Our new aggremet with one waste handling company will help us reach these targets . 

Using one supplier will also put us in a position to better influence that our waste is not unnecessarily sent for disposal which can impact the environment negatively. This is however more difficult in our downstream operations where each company still uses local suppliers. This results among other things in volumes of waste being diverted from recycling to landfill or Incineration (energy recovery). We are working with our suppliers downstream in Europe to better understand how we can increase our share of waste being diverted to recycling.

In collaboration with our waste handling companies (both in Norway and Europe) we have implemented sorting regimes in all our locations and strive to make sure that all our waste is handled in a sustainable way by us and the recipient of the waste. In this the different waste handling companies, local and National governments are the main contributor and drivers to make the big changes. Without involvement, dedication and investments from them, it is difficult to see a significant change in share of waste being diverted to recycling.

We are committed to continue our work with different stakholders and the UN Global Compact initiative to do what we can to push for change within the national and global regulations for waste handling and sorting. Our companies will also continue to audit and followup our suppliers on waste handling to make sure that our waste is handled in a legal and sustainable manner.

All waste fraction data is mandatory to report to the group through its environmental reporting system (Cemasys). Data reported monthly is based on invoice from Waste handling companies.

Lerøy have not received any whistleblowing cases regarding waste management, waste handling or any misconduct regarding waste in 2022. We have neither received any fines, lawsuits or other legal actions towards us in connections to our waste handling and management.

Safety for our workers are always high on our priority list. Making sure that no one gets injured or sick handling waste in our, or our suppliers workspace is essential and governs our operations. Strict HSE procedures and guidelines are in place to ensure that our workers health and safety is secured. All employees who have training and are approved for handling hazardous waste is provided with required protective equipment.

For more information regarding our waste managment please see our Policy on waste management

The group reduced its share of non-organic waste which was recycled (Material recovered and re-used) in 2022 with 8,5 % compared to 2021. Our share of recycled waste was 44,88 % (2 794 644 kg) compared to 53,42 % (3 198 029 kg) in 2021. The total volume of inorganic waste in the group have increased from 5 986 758 kg in 2021 to 6 227 329 kg in 2022.

The main reason for the reduction in recycled waste is mainly related to reporting practices and knowledge in our companies regarding waste handling and treatment. After conducting a quality control of reported numbers we saw that many companies did not report treatment type correctly. The main reason was lacking information from their waste handling company, and in some cases lacking understanding of waste handling in general.

We have therefore increased our focus on training, knowledge sharing and supplier followup to make sure that the data quality from our operations in Europe are equal to our Operations in Norway. Actions taken to increase data quality:

• Training of personnel reporting waste data
  1. Training includes description of waste categories and treatment types.
• Implemented a LSG procedures regarding reporting and control of environmental data
• Increased dialogue with waste handling companies to increase degree of information on invoices to also include treatment type pr waste fraction.
• Changing supplier of waste handling in companies where necessary.

We feel confident that our share of recycled in organic waste will increase in 2023 as a result of our strategic partnership with one supplier of waste in Norway, and our actions taken in our Downstream operations.

Waste presented in tables below are reported from our production operations throughout the group. We also have small volumes of waste generated from our offices. 

Table 1: Overview of inorganicwaste volumes in Tons per treatment type, % of total waste and % change compared to last year (2021) in LSG.

The change in Reuse compared to last year is mainly because increased data quality.

Our target to increase the share of inorganic waste which is material recoverd is ambitious. We feel however confident that it is possible to reach the target in partnership with our waste handling company. In accordance with the EU Waste Directive the target for 2030 is 65 %.

The share of hazardous inorganic waste in LSG is still low, but has increased from 0,01 % in 2021 to 2,1 % in 2022. The increase is mainly related to increased focus on reporting and data quality. Some of our factories still use fluorescent lights, so by changing them to LED lights we can reduce this even further. In addition, the electrifying of our feeding stations will also reduce our hazardous waste by eliminating the use of oils and lubricants for our generators. Lerøy did not have any hazardous organic waste in 2022. The prosentage of total Hazardous waste (including organic waste) was 0,16 % in 2022.

Table 2: Waste by composition, in metric tons. Organic waste included.

Table 3: Non Hazardous Waste diverted from disposal by recovery operation, in metric tons. Organic waste included

Table 4: Hazardous Waste diverted from disposal by recovery operation, in metric tons. Organic waste included

Table 5: Hazardous Waste directed to disposal by disposal method, in metric tons. Organic waste included

Table 6: Non Hazardous Waste directed to disposal by disposal method, in metric tons. Organic waste included.

LSG did not store any waste onsite longterm during 2022. Some Hazardous wastes of small quantities are stored safely and with in regulations in storage lockers design for the purpose. Waste handling company handles and transport in accordance with relevant regulations.

ORGANIC NON-EDIBLE MATERIALS

Organic waste in the group is reported in accordance with (EU) nr 142/2011. Category 2 and 3 Organic non-edible materials from our activities is respectively 7,9 % and 14,3 % of the total volume produced per segment (Farming category 2, Industry and VAPS&D for Category 3). Our total organic waste, including Category 2, 3 and organic sludge is 11,9 % of the total volume produced. Organic sludge contributes to 0,74 % of the total.

The Group strives to increase the share for human consumption, and  aims to increase the share by 50% by 2024. Projects across the Group have been ongoing since 2019.

We have invested in a harvest boat which will significantly increase fish welfare and volumes for harvest from our farming operations. This will reduce the volume in Category 2 significantly. In addition, several projects in our VAP, Sales and Distribution segment will contribute to the reduction of food waste and increase the level of raw materials for human consumption.

In addition we have several initiativs going to better utilice the potensial in our sludge generated. Sludge from our farming and Industry are uteliced both for biogas production and earth improvement (compost in agriculture).

RECYCLING

Recycling our output factors where we can is important. This includes both inorganic -and organic wastes. Together with our waste handling companies we strive to increase the share of waste which is re-used or material recovered. Together we have initatives to find the best solutions for upcycling and downcycling our waste fractions.

The Group is actively involved in the process of recovering plastic waste from the oceans through different programs, in order to protect marine wildlife. One of the activities is recycling our fish farming nets, ropes and old trawlernets.

Another activity is: “ Only on loan”. This is a project in which Lerøy Seafood works together with waste and recycling company Norsk Recycling to ensure that the packaging for products packed in aluminium trays is returned for recycling after use.  Such packaging is therefore only “on loan”.

Waste is a resource that is not properly utilised, and we aim to do something about this. We also focus on using the correct packaging and the correct size of products in order to avoid waste.

USE OF ORGANIC SLUDGE FROM SMOLT PRODUCTION

Since 2013, when the juvenile production facility Belsvik opened, we have sent our organic sludge to a biogas production facility. The use of Organic sludge as biogas is sustainable, but we have found that long transportation of sludge with high content of water was less sustainable. We do not release an sludge to public waterways.

Investment in a drying facility on location was therefore recently decided and from 2023 we will be able to deliver dried sludge to the agriculture industry.

The Sludge will be used as a soil improvement material and fertilizer. Our other two major smolt production sites in Laksefjord and Kjærelva is already drying their sludge on site for the agriculture industry.

SUGAR KELP

The Group is also producing sugar kelp, which is another example of recycling. When we produce sugar kelp we use the nutritions from fish farming to produce sugar kelp and blue mussels.