Norvida's CSR-policy

Norvida works hard when it comes to animal welfare. To guide us in this work, we use what has been designated as the Five Freedoms for animal welfare. These are based on a scientific definition which has gained considerable international recognition and is used in numerous contexts, including by WOAH, World organisation for animal health. In their simplest form, the Five Freedoms are: (1) Freedom from hunger and thirst. (2) Freedom from discomfort. (3) Freedom from pain, injury and disease. (4) Freedom to express normal behaviour. (5) Freedom from fear and distress.

In Sweden, the debate concerning meat and the use of antibiotics is one which has received extensive coverage. The debate originates in the overuse of antibiotics in humans and in livestock rearing in a way that contributes towards antibiotic resistance. This is a problem because resistant bacteria can lead to illnesses which are difficult to treat, and this poses a threat both to humans and to animals.

In no circumstances does Norvida permit the use of antibiotics for preventive or growth-promoting purposes. On the other hand, it is also important to properly treat animals which are found to be sick, both today and in the future.

It is important to know that meat by and large never contains antibiotics, even in cases when it comes from really poor producers. This is controlled and ensured through measurements which look at the level of antibiotic residues. According to the Swedish National Food Agency, food sold in Sweden does not contain antibiotic residues which pose a risk to health, and this is true both of imported food and food produced in Sweden.

Norvida takes a neutral view on the origin of its meat. This means that we sell the meat which meets our high requirements rather than opting for a specific country of origin. There are good and poor producers in all countries.

In the debate on climate-smart foods, it is often stated that long journeys have huge environmental consequences and that locally produced foods are therefore always the smarter choice. That is a simplified depiction. Studies from bodies such as the IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute show that transport distance is of limited significance. 90 percent of the total climate impact from meat stems from the farm where the animal is reared, regardless of country.

That being said, transportation is of course still one of the factors which has a bearing on overall sustainability. That is why we primarily use cargo vessels, which have a very low environmental impact for the transport of meat from outside the EU. We also opt to invest in climate-positive measures in order to offset the environmental impact that, in spite of everything, are still caused by maritime transport.

Meat, and in particular beef, is often presented as one of the main culprits when it comes to global warming. This is of course a valid point and something we need to be vigilant about when it comes to the ecosystem of planet Earth. Meat production is often a resource-intensive way to produce protein. At the same time, however, meat also makes up an important part of our diet. Our answer here at Norvida is to prioritise natural grazing. All of our lamb and a high proportion of our beef comes from animals that graze on outdoor pastures all through the year. In many cases, they graze on lands that could not be used for any other form of food production.

This approach also plays an important role for the rainforest. As you are no doubt aware, the Amazon rainforest is being plundered and this is provoking many problems for biodiversity, the climate, indigenous peoples and more. The rainforest is a crucial and vulnerable part of the ecosystem of planet Earth and something we must all protect. Norvida products which originate in Brazil are never produced in states that are located to any extent whatsoever in the Amazon vegetation region.