Dr. Schär

gluten-free and special nutrition products for a sustainable future

Dr. Schär was founded in 1922 in South Tyrol, in the heart of the Alps, with a view to developing special dietary products that are both well tolerated and tasty. Under the leadership of Ulrich Ladurner, the company launched its first complete range of gluten-free products in the 80’s. Today, Dr. Schär’s product ranges are available in over 100 countries. The company is a global leader in gluten-free food and special nutrition. In Sweden, Arvid Nordquist has been responsible for the sale of Dr. Schär’s products since 2013.

Sustainability strategy “Growing Together”.Dr. Schär takes its responsibility as a producer of gluten-free and special nutrition products extremely seriously. Sustainability challenges are of key interest to the company, as the environment directly affects product quality, especially when related to land use and farming practices. The company’s sustainability strategy, “Growing Together”, focuses on four areas: • Biodiversity & sustainable farming • Sustainable packaging • CO2 footprint • Diversity & inclusion

Biodiversity & sustainable farming

Dr. Schär works to protect and boost biodiversity and sustainable farming practices through a number of projects. Among other things, the company’s research and development team in Trieste is investigating the use of microorganisms and other substances that can improve crop growth by capturing nitrogen from the air as so-called biostimulants. This reduces the need for mineral fertiliser, which in turn minimises the environmental impact, not to mention health risks for workers in the fields. Another example of a project realised with local farmers and experts was the one on corn in 2022 in which drip irrigation with drip tape was used as a water-saving method.

To combat deforestation and promote biodiversity, Dr. Schär is working to create as sustainable a supply chain as possible for raw materials such as palm oil, cocoa and soya. For palm oil and cocoa for example, the company is RSPO and RA certified, this to ensure that both ingredients are produced responsibly and with consideration for the environment.

Dr. Schär also prioritises animal welfare: an example is the use of barn eggs since 2016.

Innovative projects for the future

Dr. Schär has launched several projects to ensure sustainable food production for the future. Together with CropTrust, Genebank Tyrol and Laimburg Research Center they have grown 100 different gluten-free crops in one filed, Field100. The aim of this activation was to promote biodiversity and investigate how agriculture can adapt to climate change.

Another initiative, VItaMì, aims to grow new varieties of millet, with the first field trials beginning in 2022. Following detailed analysis, the company plans to start distributing seeds to farmers in 2026.

Sustainable packaging

Dr. Schär strives to optimise their use of packaging materials and to adjust them for the future.

On the way to sustainable packaging, they have defined two strategic goals:

They are committed to reducing packaging and replacing plastic with paper whenever sensible
They aim to make all their packaging recyclable, recycled or compostable

To improve consumer awareness, the company is also focusing on providing clear information on how to recycle the packaging.