Sustainability
To Cater to Values-Driven Shoppers, Companies Work to Quantify and Simplify Information on Food’s Climate Impact
According to a 2019 report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the food system is responsible for about 21% to 37% of total greenhouse gas emissions — resulting from all parts of the production process from agriculture and land use to packaging, storage and transportation. Betting on consumers’ increased desire for transparency in the items they buy, some brands and marketplaces are working to help educate shoppers about the carbon impact of their purchases, providing clarity to a previously opaque part of the industry.
Modernizing the Milkman Model, Zero-Waste Platforms Aim to Make Sustainable Grocery Shopping Accessible
In many ways, the onset of the pandemic threatened to turn back the clock on any progress made in establishing more eco-friendly grocery shopping systems, as it brought on renewed interest in single-use plastics, bans on reusable bags and refillable cups and a decline in plastic recycling rates. But some new grocery startups and stores are gaining momentum as they fight this resurgence in disposability, updating the milkman model and adapting to changing consumer behaviors.
Reusable CPG Packaging Platform Loop Expands Nationwide
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, many high-profile sustainability initiatives have taken a back seat to single-use packaging, with many grocery stores banning reusable bags and Starbucks no longer accepting refillable mugs. Despite this, Loop is going all in on reusable packaging, launching its waste-free CPG delivery platform nationwide through retailers Walgreens and Kroger with heavyweight brand partners including PepsiCo, Nestlé and Unilever.
Hartman Group: Consumers Seek Sustainability at the Shelf
Although many consumers began recognizing sustainability as a personal responsibility, they are increasingly considering the “greater good” and turning to brands to take action, according to research firm The Hartman Group’s 2019 report, “Sustainability: Beyond Business As Usual.”
Whole Foods Tackles Sustainability With New Sourcing Policy For Canned Tuna
Under the new policy, which will be fully enforced by January 2018, all canned tuna sold at Whole Foods must come from fisheries using only pole-and-line, troll, or handline catch methods, all of which take fish one by one. Fisheries must also attain sustainability certification from the Marine Stewardship Council or be rated green or yellow by the Monterey Bay Aquarium and The Safina Center. Suppliers must also use a traceability software, Trace Register, which tracks each lot of tuna at every point from vessel to can.
Growing Problems: The Soylent/TerraVia Divorce
Initially, it seemed like a perfect romance: the venture-backed producer of a protein-heavy flour made from renewable microscopic plants and an up-and-coming “meal disruptor” food and beverage brand meeting to create what could potentially be a monumentally hip “step toward sustainable food production.” But the breakup is real: the past month has found food and beverage producer/replacer Soylent and ingredient supplier TerraVia, engaged in finger-pointing over product problems that plagued Soylent and some of its consumers late last year.
Lundberg Family Farms Promotes Organic Farming with New Thai Hom Mali Rice
As a leader in sustainable farming practices, Lundberg Family Farms is proud to work with Thai Organic & Fairtrade Agriculture Group and partner with hand-selected, small, remote farming communities in Thailand. This unique partnership allows for the preservation of farming methods while making the fragrant grain available to American consumers.
Barry Callebaut targets 100% sustainable chocolate by 2025
Barry Callebaut, the world’s leading manufacturer of high-quality chocolate and cocoa products, published Tuesday its new sustainability strategy “Forever Chocolate” with the ambition to move sustainable chocolate from niche to norm in less than a decade.
Patagonia Goes From Parkas to the Pantry
Patagonia, long seen as a leader in outdoor gear and apparel, has decided to step up the pace of its move out of the changing room and into the kitchen with the expansion of their Patagonia Provisions line. With 29 SKUs, including soups, bars, jerky, cereal and more, the line is on its way to become a key flanker to Patagonia’s core business.
Caveman Coffee Releases 100% Compostable Capsules
This week, Coffee and MCT Oil company Caveman Coffee Co. launched their new 100% fully compostable capsules. The Single Origin Roast is perfectly measured to give you the perfect cup, compatible with Keurig 2.0 Technology.