Food
Traceability: The Path towards More Sustainable Supply Chains
In the improvement of sustainability practices, there is still massive potential in the supply chain. For example, according to CDP, if suppliers to 125 multinationals were to increase their renewable electricity consumption by 20%, over a billion metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions could be saved: equivalent to the combined emissions of Brazil and Mexico. Nevertheless, only 23% of tier-1 suppliers are engaging on emission reduction activities with their own suppliers. Evidently, business processes such as planning, sourcing, producing, and logistics require restructuring and redesigning. One of the factors that can play a major role on enhancing efficiency and optimization in the supply chain is improving traceability: the ability to track and monitor all steps involved in the development of a finished good, from the procurement stage of raw materials to production, consumption all the way to the disposal of goods.
Seaweed to Improve the Soil – a New Zealand Success Story
When New Zealanders Jill Bradley and her partner Keith visited an organic farm that used seaweed to improve the soil, it changed their lives forever. They researched which seaweed had the best qualities, and started a business to supply farmers with natural biostimulants. Some twenty-five years later, Agrisea is a sizeable player in New Zealand’s agricultural sector. The Sailors for Sustainability, Floris and Ivar, speak to Tane and Clare Bradley, the company’s current directors, to learn more about their business model and their products’ environmental benefits.
Better Food for People and Planet
Notably, the food industry is among the first sectors affected by climate change and a wave of new reports and articles about food and sustainability have been published in 2019: What to make of the new evidence of today's food system challenges - from agri-food related climate change, to biodiversity loss, the ever significant food loss and waste and not to forget the increasing poor diets-related illness?
Summary of SAM's Webcast on Living Wage
On November 19th, 2019, SAM hosted its last webinar on the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) 2019 results. The focus of this webcast was the criterion of Living Wage which was added to the so-called Future Questions section of the 2019 assessment for companies in 11 industries including Construction & Engineering, Food & Staples Retailing, Personal Products, Metals & Mining, and Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods. Download our free summary of the highlights in the attachment of the article.
The Future of Food Conference: London
In addition to an event in Chicago in May, the Innovation Forum's Future of Food Conference will also take place in London on the 4th-5th of June 2019. This two-day business conference will identify the main areas of opportunity and innovation within the food and beverage industry. Specifically, the aims of this conference are to promote candid discussion between key stakeholder groups, highlight leading practices and the companies successfully implementing policies, showcase the latest technology solutions on the market and facilitate collaboration to further drive innovation and progress for the future of food production and consumption.
Give Your Business More than a Sustainable Twist
Many firms fail to successfully implement their sustainability strategies, not because they lack the desire, the willingness or even the belief in the impact of sustainability on their businesses, but because they fail to identify proper objectives for their efforts. Setting a clear and meaningful purpose can help an organization to coalesce various efforts and goodwill and gives a shared sense of direction. Practice the creation of a purpose-based business with The Cover Story tool and the Bob’s Burgers Workshop.
Will Animal Protein Still Be on the Menu in 2050?
The world population is projected to rise to 9 billion people in 2050. In order to be able to feed the world by then, food production will need to increase intensely. However, this intensification needs to be carefully balanced since environmental impacts are major. The livestock sector in particular is under scrutiny, since it is the world’s largest user of natural resources with 80% of all agricultural land accounts for grazing or animal feed production, and 8% for global water use. With the introduction of different future scenarios to fulfil future protein need such as alternative diets, insects as a protein source and stem cell grown meat, the livestock value chain has to get serious about its sustainability approach.
How Barry Callebaut Is Saving Chocolate with Bold 2025 Goals
Ten years ago, newcomer Tony’s Chocolonely disrupted the chocolate industry with its purpose of making chocolate 100% free of child labor and slavery. Today, big players have started to follow suit. Barry Callebaut, the world's leading supplier of high-quality chocolate and cocoa products, has set and is working towards very ambitious sustainability goals. Barry Callebaut’s forward-looking approach is an example of inevitable action if we are to have chocolate in the future at all.
FReSH: 25 Partners in Global Platform for Food Reform
At the 2017 World Economic Forum in Davos, a brand new platform was launched with the aim to achieve healthy, enjoyable diets for all, that are produced responsibly within planetary boundaries. A total of 25 global companies such as Givaudan, Solvay, Unilever and FrieslandCampina joined together to launch FReSH (the Food Reform for Sustainability and Health program) under the leadership of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and the EAT Foundation.
