How we are saving water
Water conservation is a top priority at Rousselot due to its critical role in gelatin and collagen peptide production — whether for cleaning raw material, extracting gelatin, filtering solutions or maintaining hygienic facilities.
A long-term commitment to responsible water use
Our primary goal is to reduce usage wherever possible. Depending on the facility, we primarily source spring or public water, and most of it is returned to nature after treatment. High-performance wastewater treatment systems across our facilities help support discharged water meets or exceeds its original purity.
Steps taken to reduce water consumption
We explore all possible measures, from simple efficiency improvements to advanced water recovery systems. Our global teams collaborate regularly to share best practices and innovations, all while maintaining product quality.
Reusing process water
Recycling water from production is one of the most effective ways to reduce freshwater use. We are increasing the reuse of water from production instead of sending it all out as wastewater, also known as effluent. And as water is used throughout the gelatin and collagen peptides production process, we have numerous opportunities for recovery and recycling.
For example, we recover and reuse cooling water — essential for dissipating the heat generated during production — at our Dubuque, Iowa, in the U.S. and Ghent, Belgium, facilities. In Girona, Spain, we repurpose sealing water from pumps — used to cool, lubricate and flush equipment — by reintegrating it into the production process. At our Isle sur la Sorgue, France, facility a wastewater recycling process saves millions of cubic meters of water annually.
Filtration systems are also essential to maximizing water recovery. The more efficient they are, the more water we can recover. Many of our plants have adopted advanced filtration technologies. In Girona, for instance, we’ve implemented advanced filtration including a reverse osmosis system. In Da’an, China, we optimize filtration by shutting down sand filters in winter, reducing unnecessary water flow and energy consumption.
Improving water distribution
Even small upgrades can yield big results. Improving the water network — such as repairing leaks — has already led to measurable savings. Across all our facilities, we continuously monitor systems to detect and fix leaks or inefficiencies quickly.
The ripple effect of saving water
Water conservation is important to our operations. It not only reduces energy use and emissions but also is an opportunity for innovation across our processes. We are committed to being responsible stewards of water resources and pursuing opportunities for improvement.
Learn more about Rousselot’s commitment to sustainability.