La Solís tomato factory has been recognized with the highest distinction for its sustainable water management. Thus, the factory has achieved the “Platinum” level in the industry standard. Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS), a global certification that promotes responsible water use that is socially equitable, environmentally sustainable and economically beneficial.
Although until now, the factory had already been certified with the “Gold” standard, AWS wanted to recognize the factory with the highest level for “take your water management performance to higher levels”. Thus, the AWS Platinum certification recognizes the great work carried out both at the Nestlé factory in Miajadas and throughout the tomato value chain, as the main raw material, through the “Responsible Solís” initiative.
This program, which has been developed since 2013, has involved the cultivation of tomatoes applying techniques to ensure long-term sustainable local agriculture. Thus, all the tomatoes used in said production center come from fields cultivated in Las Vegas del Guadiana, with a supply radius of less than 50 kilometers.
As a result, between 2013 and 2022, accumulated savings of more than 1,4 million m3 of water, equivalent to the daily consumption of more than 10,5 million people. Likewise, in this period an average decrease of 8% in the use of pest control products and 6% in the use of fertilizers has been achieved.
With this Solís project of sustainable local agriculture, “Nestlé has shown that a balanced product, with a natural flavor and without preservatives, such as tomato sauces, is perfectly aligned with environmental protection, water saving and the development of a local agricultural fabric. All work recognized at the highest level with this new AWS certification.”, highlighted Ignasi Rosés, Culinary Director of Nestlé Spain.
Best Practices
To this end, Nestlé, in collaboration with the supplier, has worked year after year with farmers in the area, who have applied good environmentally friendly practices through the implementation of measures focused on both the study and minimization of the consumption of water, as well as in the control and reduction of the use of fertilizers and pesticides for pest control.
In addition, all the tomatoes supplied to the factory for transformation into Solís tomato sauces have the Extremadura Integrated Production certification, which has meant extending the implementation of drip irrigation, leading to a reduction in the water footprint and turning Solís into a whole model of sustainable local agriculture.
The AWS Platinum certification is also the result of the work carried out in recent years at the factory, thanks to the collaboration between the main public and private actors in the area, based on sustainable water management. Thus, for example, through the improvement of the plant's internal processes, it has managed to improve the water balance and water quality.
