Blue Whale Fruiticulteurs depuis 1950

Green commitment

Blue Whale is green!

From the orchard to the retail outlet, care for the environment
is a priority for Blue Whale.

Fruit-growers or employees in our fruit stations, our employees all over France apply the same rules of behaviour.

Daily efforts which count for very little compared to what nature offers us!

Sustainable orchards

Our fruit-growers are very attached to their land and work hand in hand with nature, using responsible, sustainable agricultural techniques.
It’s a commitment they’re proud of.

Limiting insecticide treatments

In Blue Whale orchards, the fruit-growers use a wide range of methods other than chemicals to fight against pests. The “sexual confusion” technique, based on adding synthetic pheromones to the air, prevents insects from mating and breaks the reproduction cycle among pests. Insect-proof nets form an effective physical barrier to protect the orchards against external damage (weather or viruses).

Optimizing the use of water

Regulating irrigation is a major issue for our fruit-growers.
Tensiometers are used to provide the exact amount of water
needed according to the season and the weather.
Blue Whale is partner of TCSD in its IRRIS project. The IRRIS (Irrigation Engineering System) program aims to develop a better irrigation management through the design of a new low-cost water probe, and so, optimize water resources.

Preserving the ecosystem

Everything is done to preserve biodiversity in the orchards:
hedges are maintained or planted and nest-boxes introduced
to help preserve an abundant plant and animal life.

Exemplary stations

Blue Whale makes every effort to reduce its environmental footprint
at every stage in the production process.

Preserving water resources...

In its stations, Blue Whale is gradually eliminating water-intensive processes:

• the water in the pre-sizing channels is filtered by a natural process (using sand and active carbon). There’s no need to renew the water, so this saves 3 to 4,000 m3 of water a year!
• in our refrigeration units, air defrosting systems have replaced water defrosting. Limiting undesirable substances...
• In its refrigeration units, Blue Whale is gradually replacing freon
  (a greenhouse gas) with ammonia...
• and cutting down the number of post-harvest treatments by using better cold storage conditions : Extrême ULO (Ultra Low Oxygen) technology
  and/or innovative processes that slow the ripening of the fruit
  after picking (Smart fresh).

Saving energy...

• in its cold rooms, Blue Whale has opted for the « extrême ULO » process, which has cut energy consumption;
• the roofs of certain Blue Whale stations are fitted with photovoltaic panels;
• more economical LED bulbs are gradually replacing standard bulbs;
• to reduce energy loss, automatic doors are installed between refrigerated and temperate areas.

Retreating waste...

• wastewater from Blue Whale stations is recovered
  and treated by Veolia;
• organic waste and rotten fruit is collected and turned into compost;
• rejects (fruit rejected by quality control) and excess stocks
  are sold on and used to make glucose syrup;
• non-organic waste (drums, boxes, metal, wood and plastic...)
  is methodically sorted and then recycled;
• concrete areas have been specially built to recover effluents
  and avoid any risk of infiltration down to the water table;
• To go even further, Blue Whale is involved in a “INNOPOM” project with the Toulouse competitive cluster.