Translations

LESAFFRE develops river transport for molasses

4. Environment

Sustainable mobility

Sector Food-processing

Year 2015

Country France

Transmitter

Context

Lesaffre, a manufacturing company located by the canal of La Marque in Marcq-en-Barœul, consumes high quantities of fermentation substrates (molasses and liquid sugar) for the production of yeast. These raw materials derived from the sugar-making process are conveyed both by road and river.

As a global key player in yeasts and fermentation, Lesaffre desings, manufactures and markets innovative solutions for Baking, Food taste & pleasure, Health Care and Biotechnology. Family group in northern France in 1853, now a multi-national and a multicultural company, Lesaffre employs 8 300 people.

Objectives

To maximise river transport to carry 50% of fermentation substrates using canals in the short run.

APPROACH

Molasses is mainly transported from sugar-making plants by road. Imported molasses (from sugar cane) are transported by sea, usually stored at the port of Dunkirk and later conveyed by barge to Marcq-en-Barœul.

To develop river transport:

Following negotiations with suppliers, preference is given to loading points connected to waterways, including from Germany and the Netherlands, with the use of large capacity barges up to 1,300 T in these 2 cases.
As for unloading, in addition to the storage site of Wavrin, a warehouse in Prouvy (near Valenciennes) was bought and improved to be adjusted to river transport to develop river transport.
Lesaffre ensures that barges operate on a permanent basis for better productivity, for the best interest of the company and bargees.

Best Practice spotted in 2010 by the World Forum for a Sustainable Economy and updatedin 2015.

CONTRIBUTION TO COMPANY PERFORMANCE

Reduced costs, in particular reduced energy consumption
Goods are appropriate for this type of transport
Secured supply in consideration of the weather
Experience to be developed: a study is underway for the river transport of other raw materials.
The purchase of greater quantities of substrate from Germany and the Netherlands has increased the fraction of river transport.

Benefits

1 barge = 230 to 330 tonnes (depending on the depth of the canal), i.e. the equivalent of 9 to 13 tankers
Reduced road traffic: 5,000 less trucks per year
Less pollution, less nuisance, less CO2 emission
Oxygenation of canal water and improved biodiversity