Climate
40x fewer CO2 emissions
Compared to cattle, the raising of our mealworms is kind to climate. Much less energy intensive, mealworm protein also avoids the methane emissions released by certain livestock.
Impact
Taking a little, giving back a lot
Our impact is sewn throughout our DNA, constructing the foundations our company was built upon. At Ÿnsect, we are dedicated to aligning the health of society with that of our ecosystems.
Land
40x less land
Thanks to their size and compatibility with vertical farming, our mealworm ingredients use 40x less land than cattle farming, preserving ecosystems and combating deforestation.
Oceans
5 tons of fish saved per ton of Ÿnsect protein
For every ton of Ÿnsect protein used in fish feed, we save 5 tons of fish. Offering a nutritious alternative to fish meal, our products improve health while combating overfishing.
Water
30x less water
One kilo of mealworm protein uses 30 times less water than one kilo of pork: the process itself is much less water intensive, and our mealworms consume less directly.
Food sovereignty
More local, more stable
Our scalable technology means that our vertical farms can be constructed anywhere, globally. Not only does this mean more control, stability, and transparency within our supply chains, but also upcycling of byproducts at a local level, promoting circularity.
Occupational change
Modernizing industry jobs
Our vertical farms are run by a new generation of specialized farmers. At the crossroads of agriculture and technology, we leverage cutting-edge machinery and automation technology that mitigates the physical burden associated with traditional practices, leading to a higher quality of life for people occupying agricultural professions.
Our commitments
Environment
Social
Governance
Environment
We always try to do better. Our impact spans beyond that of our products, dedicated to monitoring every part of our business for a journey of continuous improvement.
While we use a fraction of the land of traditional livestock, in-depth analyses of our footprint showed that our insects’ feed has the highest impact. We are therefore dedicated to limiting the land impact of our agricultural partners’ farms: as part of the TerrHa 2040 program, we work with farmers to implement the most sustainable agricultural practices.
In 2021, our Impact team created our first carbon budget. Outlining and implementing a tangible step-by-step plan to optimize our design, as well as feed and energy use, we are on track to reduce our GHG emissions by 66% by 2030, fully aligned with the IPCC recommendations, COP 26 target and 1.5° scenario of the Paris agreements.
Social
It’s always possible to do better. Our impact spans beyond that of our products, dedicated to monitoring every part of our business for a journey of continuous improvement.
Committed to gender parity, in 2022, our gender equality score was 93/100: 6 points above the national average. We also joined the French Tech’s Parity Pact that implements tangible actions to make France’s startup ecosystem more equal, and offer 10 weeks paid parental leave for the ‘second’ parent, on top of the legal requirement for the ‘first’ parent. In 2023, we signed the StOpE initiative, to fight against ordinary sexism in the workplace.
100% of our operators and line drivers are recruited using an inclusive recruitment method, developed by Pôle Emploi (France’s unemployment service). To staff our newest vertical farm in Amiens, we operate a CV-free recruitment process; instead, we just test their skills.
Insect production is a new industry, so we support our employees to acquire the skills they need. We provide up to 45 days of training for new Ynsecters, covering industry specifics. Our dedicated trade school, ‘Chrysalis’, is a fundamental and obligatory part of our onboarding program. It’s also open to the public under certain conditions through Pole Emploi (France’s unemployment service).
To be able to respond to your employees’ needs, frequent check-ins and a two-way dialogue is essential. That’s why we carry out regular detailed internal surveys, and carry out a feedback integration plan in the weeks that follow. We listen, understand, and respond.
Governance
We always try to do better. Our impact spans beyond that of our products, dedicated to monitoring every part of our business for a journey of continuous improvement.
All employees can become shareholders of Ÿnsect. Employees may benefit financially from the success of the company but also have a say in how it is run.
In 2022, we will launch the Impact Committee. Made up of independent experts in a variety of fields, their knowledge spans from sustainability and nutrition to Ynsect, bringing on board one employee. The committee will advise on the company’s strategy to ensure we are keeping impact front and center of our mission.
As you may have guessed, impact is at the forefront of how we run our business. Since all our teams have a hand in how we operate, our impact ambassador network guarantees that impact has a voice across all departments. The community is made up of Ynsecters across the company.
One of the world’s leading climate education NGOs, ‘The Climate Collage’ spent a year teaching most Ynsecters about climate change, how it works, and its implications. Once again, the aim of the project is to ensure we remain impact-focused in all areas of the company.
Circular economy
We operate a minimal-waste process by upcycling our mealworms’ dejections into high-quality fertilizer. Used to fertilize the crops that feed our mealworms, we also upcycle food byproducts thanks to their inclusion in our insects’ feed, promoting circularity throughout our model.
Working with global partners
Collaboration brings about the most impact. Rather than operating in silos, we work with the actors around us to make sure we stay aligned with the planet’s priorities at a global level.
Commitment
UN Global Compact
We joined the UN Global Compact in 2021, a voluntary leadership platform for the implementation and disclosure of responsible business practices. Membership requires alignment with ten principles that embody the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
Commitment
Parity Pact
Co-created with the Next40 startups, we joined the Parity Pact to transition towards a more equal startup ecosystem. Outlining many concrete commitments, the aim is to bring about tangible actions that advance equality between women and men in the French startup ecosystem.
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