Good environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles are key to AKVA group’s global activities. As a supplier of technology, services and complete solutions of land based and sea based aquaculture systems, AKVA group plays an important role in the industry´s efforts to reduce environmental impacts.
We work both to improve our customers and our own impact on sustainability. Sustainability must therefore influence everything we do. It must be part of AKVA group´s culture and DNA, it must be part of the solutions and products we sell and buy, and a driving force behind innovation.
AKVA group defines sustainability in line with the Brundtland Commission’s 1987 UN report Our Common Future: “Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015, share 17 Sustainable Development Goals, which are an urgent call for action by all countries. AKVA group supports and works in line with these goals.
In 2021 we developed a sustainability roadmap and set some important goals towards 2030
AKVA group's diversified operations demand a high degree of caution, honesty and integrity. Accordingly, AKVA group values its company culture and reputation as key assets. We expect our employees to promote our core values by acting responsibly towards colleagues, business associates and society at large. Our Code of Conduct applies to all representatives of the Company throughout the world as well as to the members of the Board of Directors of AKVA group ASA and of its subsidiaries.
You can read all about out achievements on sustainability in our ESG report (page 107 in the Annual report).
AKVA group supports and respects the protection of internationally recognized human rights and takes steps to ensure that the company does not cause or contribute to, and is not directly linked to, adverse impacts on human rights and decent working conditions.
Our solutions
AKVA group allocates substantial financial resources to develop more sustainable technologies for the global aquaculture industry, targeting improved fish welfare as well as solutions to solve environmental issues, such as the challenge of fish escapees and problems with sea lice in the salmon industry. We work closely together with customers, suppliers and research institutions in different projects and initiatives going on in the aquaculture industry.
Pens in recycled material and without polystyrene
AKVA group has removed polystyrene in the fabrication of all plastic pen PE piping. AKVA group are working extensively to reduce plastic waste, cuts, spill and drift-off during the assembly processes and introduced new polystyrene-free pens to the market. In 2021, AKVA group and Plasto developed walkways based on recycled material from discarded pens. At the end of 2021, AKVA group, Plasto and Oceanize received grants from the Norwegian Retailer´s Environment Fund for a project developing pens entirely based on recycled material.
Waterborne feeding technology
AKVA group strongly believe that waterborne feeding is a feeding technology for the future. Waterborne feeding is gentler on both the pellets and the feeding pipe, and noise and micro-plastic discharge are reduced. The energy consumption by replacing air with water is also reduced.
Hybrid energy solutions
Traditionally diesel is the main energy supply at barges in the aquaculture industry. This is changing rapidly and AKVA group has for several years developed hybrid energy solutions. The energy consumption on a hybrid fleet combined with waterborne feeding is now potentially reduced by 90 % compared to a diesel-based barge. Combination of a hybrid system and airborne feeding reduces the energy consumption by approximately 60 %. The CO2 emission is reduced by 1.3 ton per 24 hours for a hybrid/airborne system and 2.1 ton per 24 hour for a hybrid/ waterborne barge.