Our Commitments
Corporate Responsibility at Ajinomoto Foods Europe
At Ajinomoto Foods Europe, we are convinced that a successful company must also be a responsible one. With two production sites in France, we take daily actions to better address the environmental and social challenges related to our business. Inspired by the Ajinomoto Group’s vision, we integrate these initiatives into a sustainable development approach that is consistent with our business activities, our values and our environment.
Our CSR policy is built around three main pillars
We adapt our practices to current environmental, social, and regulatory challenges, while remaining true to our mission: to offer high-quality products inspired by Japanese and French cuisines, accessible to as many people as possible.
Climate Preservation
People
Governance & Ethics
Our CSR Commitments
Climate Preservation
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
By 2030, the Ajinomoto Group aims to reduce its scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 50.4% and its scope 3 GHG emissions by 30%, compared to 2018. This target reflects our determination to take concrete action for the climate by transforming our practices and collaborating closely with our partners.
- We continuously monitor our factories’ greenhouse gas emissions to identify sources and define reduction trajectories.
- For instance, we reduced greenhouse gas emissions related to our refrigerants at our Castelsarrasin and Le Neubourg sites by 60% between 2018 and 2024.
- We have implemented a refrigeration system modernization project that allows us to avoid the emission of 195 tons of CO₂ each year.
Responsible Sourcing
We are working with our suppliers to improve the environmental and social standards for our procurement of priority raw materials.
- 100% of our suppliers have received our Ethical and Responsible Purchasing Charter.
- In addition, whenever possible, we purchase our certified raw materials for our plants in Castelsarrasin and Le Neubourg: beef, pork, and wheat flour certified as “of French origin” RSPO-certified palm oil, and Rainforest Alliance-certified coffee and chocolate.
- Our European sourcing of animal-based raw materials is consistent with the Ajinomoto Group’s principles regarding animal welfare (learn more about the Group’s animal welfare policy).
- All eggs purchased for our French sites come exclusively from cage-free farms.
- Since late 2025, 100% of the cardboard we purchase has come from FSC/PEFC-certified sources or recycled materials.
Plastics and Packaging
We are working to reduce plastic use and improve the recyclability of our packaging, in line with the Ajinomoto Group’s goal of reducing plastic waste.
- At our Castelsarrasin plant, we have reduced pallet wrapping plastic by 60% between 2021 and 2022.
- A new washing system has allowed us to halve our macaron tray consumption.
Food Waste Reduction
In line with the Ajinomoto Group’s commitments, we are working on maintaining a reduction of at least 50% in food loss and waste compared to 2018, across the entire process from the reception of raw materials to the delivery to customers.
- Our factory shop in Le Neubourg helps sell consumable products and surplus stock at discounted prices to local residents.
- In 2024, around 20,000 products were donated to a local charity.
Ecovadis Gold Medal
Our Le Neubourg and Castelsarrasin sites have been awarded the Ecovadis Gold Medal, placing Ajinomoto among the top 5% of companies in the food industry.
This recognition highlights our concrete CSR commitments (environment, ethics, human rights, and responsible sourcing) and strengthens our partners’ trust.
People
Local Commitment and Regional Roots
Health, Safety and Well-Being
• To prevent incidents on our production sites, a safety prevention policy has been implemented, along with enhanced training and awareness campaigns.
• An annual Employee Engagement Survey on Quality of Work Life (QWL) and workplace well-being is conducted.
• The Ajinomoto Group has established the “Ajinomoto Group Way”
Career Development and Inclusion
Our ambition is to make Ajinomoto a place where every talent can grow, develop, and thrive.
Governance & Ethics
Strong governance is an essential part of our CSR approach. The Ajinomoto Group has established clear global standards for compliance and social ethics.
We regularly raise awareness among employees about key topics such as harassment prevention, human rights, and anti-corruption, etc…
Our approach is based on two key commitments :
Combining performance and sustainability
We are expanding our offer by leveraging our strong regional presence and the strength of our international group. This dual approach, both local and global, enables us to meet the expectations of our stakeholders while addressing current and future challenges related to our business.
Quality procedure: High standards and guarantees for quality and safety, applying Ajinomoto machinery and standards, as well as French and European regulations.
Governance with transparency and integrity
We build a rigorous governance framework, aligned with European requirements and founded on ethics, transparency, and responsibility. This includes concrete measures such as our internal alert system, the “Hotline,” which ensures anonymity and confidentiality to prevent any breaches of ethical, social, or environmental principles.
Ajinomoto has a whistleblowing procedure clearly displayed at all sites. This procedure applies to any violations of the Code of Conduct, attempts to conceal misconduct, faults, or breaches of law or regulations.
As part of our due diligence process, we have shared our responsible and ethical procurement policy with all of our suppliers.
Our responsive Customer Service team enables us to quickly address any inquiries from our clients.
