Our business philosophy is based on excellence in all areas of our business
Quality
Certified
We have all the necessary certifications and of course we are also Brand Reputation Compliance Global Standards (BRCGS) certified. However, our philosophy extends beyond the certificates we have obtained.
Production process
A high-tech, up-to-date machine park and continuous innovation in machinery ensure high efficiency and superior quality all year round.
Quality requirements for suppliers
St. Paul expects the same philosophy from its suppliers: proactive, a high level of integrity and a strong focus on ethical business practices. St. Paul sets high standards for the quality of the ingredients. We only work with the best ingredients from all over the world.
RSPO-gecertificeerd (4-0139-11-100-00)
RSPO Certified Sustainable Palm Oil means palm oil grown and certified in accordance with the 8 RSPO Principles and Criteria (with supporting indicators). These strict sustainability criteria relate to social, environmental and economic good practices. View our progress here.
BRCGS Global Standard
The Brand Reputation Compliance Global Standards certificate for food safety is considered the benchmark in the food industry and is an internationally recognized mark for food safety, quality and responsibility.
Halal Certification
Hafsa certified means that the product is allowed in accordance with the sharia law of Islam. When we talk about halal food, it means that the food can be eaten. To be considered halal, the foods must comply with religious rituals and comply with Sharia law.
Sustainability
We have been a cheese family for 9 generations. What started with the traditional cheese trade, we have now grown into a specialist in making functional processed cheese solutions. Cheese and entrepreneurship are our passion, but also what motivates us to go one step further every time. Proud as we are of what we do as St. Paul, we are aware of the impact of our business processes on climate and the environment.
Always being inventive and innovative has led to thinking about a sustainability strategy to minimize the ecological footprint. Social issues such as climate change, plastic and protein transition cannot be missed these days and St. Paul also wants to and is going to work on this. With strategic sustainability pillars, we want to take responsibility for our role as a producer, partner, employer, but also as a local company.
In the near future tens of millions will be invested in the factory in St. Jansteen to become the most sustainable ‘processed cheese’ factory in Europe.
Plant-based alternative
Since 1985 we are the specialized supplier of processed cheese products for B2B. A beautiful product, with which we are constantly looking for a production process that has less impact on the climate. Due to the transition to more plant-based cheese, which has a smaller impact on climate change, cheese is a product that could be more sustainable.
We are RSPO certified, which means that we use a sustainably produced choice for palm oil.
Because we produce high-quality functional cheese solutions ourselves, we can also make plant-based cheese alternatives. As a producer, we seek cooperation with suppliers and customers to use cheeses and plant-based alternatives with a smaller climate impact. We already produced semi-plant-based products and fully plant-based (vegan) products on the current line, but from 2023 we will have a specially developed plant-based production line to ensure that there are no stray animal raw materials in the cheese alternative.
Minimal packaging material and waste separation
We deliver our products worldwide in various forms and packaging. This means a lot of foil packaging. A material that ends up with the waste after use. We like to see this differently. We would prefer to use recyclable packaging, but this is not so easy with cheese given the maintenance of quality, food safety and shelf life. Of course we look at what is possible. For example, we try to pack the cheese in larger volumes to reduce the packaging material. Our packaging is reduced to the minimum thickness for an impenetrable contact barrier, to protect against oxygen permeability, moisture and dirt. For example, we use 60 g of plastic on blocks of cheese of 11 kg. In addition, our packaging has minimal product wastage on the foil.
In addition to our foil packaging, we also separate waste at the source, for example we separate wood, old paper/cardboard, plastic/plastic, glass, small chemical waste, organic waste and residual waste. In this way, no raw materials are lost and new things can be made.
Reduction of energy consumption and sustainable transport
Our products are produced at our locations in St. Jansteen and Lokeren. The production process consumes a lot of energy and CO2 emissions, which we want to reduce as much as possible. Moreover, we can quickly take steps to make our own locations more sustainable. We believe it is important to contribute to a green energy transition. For this reason, we invested in the Zonnedak St. Paul project in 2021, operated by Profinenergy Assets VII BV. A total of 5,068 solar panels have been financed on our building in St. Jansteen to generate sustainable energy in this way with a nominal annual yield of 1.463.486 kWh.
In addition, a few years ago we developed our own unique concept with our own modification and philosophies whereby natural components are used as much as possible during the cooling process. This means that we make minimal use of mechanical cooling.
From 2023 we will pay more attention to a smarter and more sustainable organization of the logistics processes. Transport has a large CO2 footprint. For example, there are serious plans to move production location Lokeren to the building in St. Jansteen. In this way we can optimize our internal transport planning by reducing the number of transport movements.
A safe, healthy and inspiring working environment
At St. Paul, we believe it is important to contribute to social sustainability within our company. We do this by continuously working on a safe, personal, and engaged work environment. We realize that without our employees, we cannot run a successful business. That’s why we help them further develop through training and education.
In addition to personal development, we guarantee optimal working conditions and encourage a healthy lifestyle. For example, we offer fruit at work every day and provide discounts on sports subscriptions. We have also completely renovated our office to ensure optimal working conditions. We have chosen adjustable desks to create an ergonomically responsible posture for our office staff. Furthermore, we have renovated the washing and changing rooms of our production-quality team, and there are two canteens where our staff can eat together.
We strive to ensure diversity in the workplace. That’s why we work with people with different ideas, cultures, and backgrounds. In this way, we create an inclusive and diverse work environment.
In addition, we want to maintain our connection to the community as a company. That’s why we support local sports clubs, cultural, and social activities. This way, we contribute to the local community and create a positive impact on our surroundings.