JBS is World’s First Food Company to Issue International Renewable Energy Certificates

Sao Paulo, Brazil based JBS, has announced that it has become the first in the food sector to have an enterprise qualified to issue International Renewable Energy Certificates (International REC Standard / I-REC). The certification proves that the generation of electricity comes from renewable and environmentally responsible sources. JBS S.A. is a Brazilian multinational company, acknowledged as one of the worldwide food industry leaders with a product range from fresh and frozen meats to prepared meals, commercialized through brands recognized in Brazil and other countries, such as Friboi, Swift, Seara, Pilgrim’s Pride, Swift Prepared Foods, Plumrose, Primo, among others. The Company also operates with correlated businesses, such as Leather, Biodiesel, Collagen, Natural Casings for cold cuts, Hygiene & Cleaning, Metal Packaging, Transportation, and solid waste management solutions, recycling, innovative operations that also promote the sustainability of the entire business value chain.

JBS has a Net Zero commitment deadline of 2040 for itself.

The official statement of JBS held that the certification was obtained through Biolins, a thermoelectric plant located in the city of Lins (SP), Brazil, which belongs to JBS.  The plant has an installed capacity of 45 MW of renewable energy which is enough to supply a city of 300,000 inhabitants.

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JBS said that based on the energy generated by the enterprise in 2021, Biolins can issue 113,400 certificates for the past year.

I-RECs can be purchased by industries and commercial establishments to prove that they consume electricity generated by renewable energy sources, such as solar plants, wind projects, and thermal and biomass power plants.

Maur cio Bauer, Director of Sustainability, JBS Brazil, said, “This is an important milestone because it certifies that Biolins is environmentally clean and that it injects energy from a 100% renewable source into the National Interconnected System (SIN). This means that the holders of I-RECs issued by Biolins can prove that the energy consumed in their operations is clean.” Currently, Biolins supplies 20 per cent electricity needs of JBS in Brazil.

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JBS Biolins was initially built to supply the entire industrial complex of the food company in Lins (SP) with steam and electricity. Its surplus energy is sent to the National Interconnected System.

The firm’s initiative calls for the use of clean energy by its businesses around the world, with solutions that include the use of photovoltaic farms to supply its own stores and the construction of plants to capture solar energy to supply its industrial units.

As part of the actions to achieve its Net Zero goal, JBS will invest $1 billion by 2030 to decarbonize its direct and indirect operations, with $100 million in research to develop solutions that make farming increasingly sustainable.