Olimpia Ortiz manages the sustainability division, one of the strategic pillars of the company.

AMC Natural Drinks Group is a European leader in innovative premium natural drinks, and works with over seventy prestigious international retailers (Sainsbury’s, Marks & Spencer, Waitrose, Albert Heijn, El Corte Inglés and Rewe, among others). The company has been wholeheartedly committed to sustainability since its inception.
Heading AMC Innova’s sustainability division is Murcia-born Olimpia Ortiz, who indeed holds a bachelor’s degree in business studies and a master’s in sustainability. She leads an international team of 15 people, and has been part of the AMC Spain and AMC UK team for 19 years, covering various key areas for the company. Over the past eight years, she has gone on to head the AMC Natural Drinks Group’s sustainability strategy, one of the pillars of the company’s strategic plan, which, in addition to its digital transformation plan, aims to increase innovation, boost efficiency, and optimize processes. In fact, over the last few years, AMC Natural Drinks has invested and innovated in new, more environmentally sustainable plant categories, for example drinks and yoghurts made from oats, soya, almonds or rice.

AMC is renowned for its commitment to excellence in food safety, which allows it to tackle the subject of sustainability in a more standardised way, ensuring that it is part and parcel of all operations. The result is production processes that fully respect the environment, the integration of circular models, operational efficiency, and transparency.

AMC’s Energy Efficiency and Transition Plan also encompasses research into alternative and renewable energy sources, such as green hydrogen, wind energy from ocean turbines, hydraulic energy – already in use at AMC Vlissingen – and other latest-generation technologies. This will be supported by funds designed to promote a more ecological, digital, and resilient Europe, such as funds from Next Generation UE.

The circular economy has always featured heavily in AMC’s designs and processes, including the eco-design of AMC packaging: 100 % recyclable and made from 100% recycled plastic. One example is its brand Vía Nature, which has just launched its most sustainable, lightest, and most efficient bottle yet.

AMC Innova is currently running over 25 research projects of international excellence, which analyze and investigate the products derived from its pressing processes. The idea is to turn these products into highly functional ingredients or perhaps even create a 100 % compostable bottle based on orange fibres produced through its own pressing process.
The company also boasts a transparent sustainable procurement policy along its supply chain, and collaborates proactively in projects designed to improve the environmental and social conditions of the communities that supply it.

For a few years now, it has been diversifying its range of products to include plant drinks and other ‘plant-based’ categories such as oat, almond, soya, rice or hazelnut drinks and yoghurts – thus offering consumers healthier and more sustainable alternatives.
The health of consumers and employees is also a key aspect of its sustainability strategy; it is aware that a source of natural immunity can be found in products such as Via Nature pomegranate juice, for example.

AMC has seen its efforts and initiatives rewarded with internationally prestigious accolades, such as the award for Best Corporate Sustainability Strategy from CFI.co, the European Sedex Award for ethical innovation, and the Ministry of Economy’s award for Most Innovative Career Path.

Article published on 03/08/21 in the newspaper “La Verdad”