Processing and packaging solutions that encourage sustainability

Current food systems are exhausting the earth’s resources.¹ Together with our suppliers, customers and partners, we support solutions that encourage sustainable production, processing, packaging, distribution and consumption of food.

A mindset for collaboration and transparency

How to achieve more sustainable food value chains

According to the latest research, the global food supply chain system is responsible for over one third of global greenhouse gas emissions.⁴ We want to work together with our suppliers and partners to reduce the negative impact the food value chain has on the planet.

A full value chain approach

We believe this starts with a mindset shift that moves from considering only what is happening in our factories and facilities to what is happening across the food value chain. And we believe it requires close collaboration and innovative thinking from all stakeholders – to truly make food value chains more sustainable. 

To help tackle the food packaging industry’s sustainability challenges, we’ve introduced a new collaborative innovation model with leading raw material suppliers. The traditional operating model of a linear supply chain has changed, and a new partnership ecosystem model is emerging, where the entire industry works in close collaboration. This brings together not only producers and suppliers, but also research institutions, universities and start-ups to find solutions.

Five areas where we can reduce climate impact

Looking across the value chain, we have identified five main challenges where we can collaborate to help promote sustainability: raw material and sourcing, where we focus on replacing the fossil-based materials in our cartons with responsibly-sourced renewable materials; production and distribution, where we aim to reduce carbon emissions across the value chain; food protection and consumption, where we focus on making food safe and available and reducing food loss and waste; recycling, where we strive to strengthen and scale local recycling systems; and end-of-life, where we aim to reduce the use of plastics and using materials with reduced impact on nature.

Building trust through transparency

In the context of health and other concerns around food, consumers are looking for transparency as reassurance, with 58% saying they really care about how food and beverages are produced and want to know everything they can about the process. In response, brands are looking to provide more information about production methods. 

We are working on creating cartons that can function as full-scale data carriers and digital tools. This means that producers will have access to end-to-end traceability, retailers can gain supply chain insights and consumers can access information about the product such as where it was produced. All of this will lead to increased transparency that can potentially unleash more sustainable practices. 

The movement towards secure food systems can’t come at the cost of the environment. By working to build sustainable food value chains, we can help ensure a brighter future for the plant while ensuring access to safe, nutritious food for the world’s growing population. It’s a fundamental part of Moving Food Forward.