Sustainability & sourcing
The cleanest extraction process we could have chosen.
This isn't a bolt-on policy. Supercritical CO₂ was picked partly because it produces no liquid effluent, emits no volatile organics, and recycles its own solvent — the environmental case and the product case point the same way.
Zero liquid discharge
No effluent from extraction. Nothing to treat, nothing to discharge.
>90% CO₂ recovered
Solvent is condensed and returned to the loop after every cycle.
MPCB Green category
Classified Green by the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board.
Closed-loop water
Cooling water is recycled rather than discharged.
Environmental compliance
Parameter by parameter
Compared with hexane or ethanol extraction, supercritical CO₂ removes most of the environmental burden at source rather than treating it downstream.
| Parameter | Status | Applicable norm | How we comply |
|---|---|---|---|
| Industry category | Green category | MPCB, Maharashtra | Consent to Establish and Consent to Operate |
| Liquid effluent | Nil — zero liquid discharge | MPCB / CPCB ZLD norms | CO₂ is inert; extraction generates no liquid waste |
| Air emissions | No VOC, no toxic gases | IS 5182 / MPCB air quality norms | CO₂ recycled at over 90%; no stack emissions |
| Solid waste — spent biomass | Spent spice marc | Solid Waste Management Rules 2016 | Sold on as animal feed or composting material |
| Noise | Moderate — compressors and pumps | IS 3483 / CPCB (<75 dB industrial) | Acoustic enclosures on compressors; operator PPE |
| Water consumption | Low — cooling and hygiene only | MPCB / local water authority | Borewell plus RO; cooling water on closed-loop recycle |
| CO₂ handling safety | High-pressure asphyxiation risk | PESO / Gas Cylinder Rules | Gas detectors, pressure relief valves, operator training, MSDS |
| Energy efficiency | Compressor is the main load | Bureau of Energy Efficiency | Variable frequency drives on pumps and compressors; energy audit scheduled |
| Packaging waste | Minimal — foil bags, HDPE drums | Plastic Waste Management Rules 2016 | Recyclable packaging; take-back policy on bulk drums |
| Carbon footprint | Approximately neutral on solvent | GHG Protocol, Scope 1 & 2 | Food-grade CO₂ recycled; no fossil-derived solvents; renewable procurement planned |
Sourcing
Shorter chains pay the farmer better
The distance between a ginger field in Satara district and our extraction vessel is short by design. Sangli — Asia's largest turmeric market — is about ninety minutes away. Being inside the growing belt cuts transport, cuts post-harvest loss, and lets us buy closer to the grower.
Where we can, we tie up directly with farmer producer organisations and agricultural cooperatives instead of routing purchases through layers of intermediaries. That's not charity — it gives us better traceability, more predictable quality and a more reliable supply through the season. It happens to also mean more of the price reaches the person who grew the crop.
For botanicals that don't grow in Maharashtra we work through established regional cooperatives and traders, and import where domestic supply is genuinely uncompetitive.
Procurement approach
- Multi-source, multi-season. More than one region per crop so a bad local season doesn't stop supply.
- Buffer stock policy. 30–90 days depending on crop seasonality and price volatility.
- FPO and cooperative tie-ups as the preferred route where the crop and region allow.
- Lot-level logging against supplier, region and season for traceability.
- Spot market used to balance, not as the primary channel.
People
Skilled jobs, in a district that needs them
A plant like this needs process technicians, lab analysts and QA people — not just labour. Those are skilled roles, and in a district where they're scarce, creating them matters.
Our team spans plant management, quality assurance, process technicians, lab analysis, packaging and dispatch, and commercial. We recruit locally where we can and train on the equipment, because supercritical extraction experience is thin on the ground anywhere in India.
Functions on site
- Plant management and operations
- Quality assurance, reporting independently of production
- Process technicians and batch operators
- In-house laboratory and QC
- Packaging, dispatch and logistics
- Commercial, export and technical sales
Need this for your own supplier ESG review?
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