According to ESMagazine, the European Sustainable Food Coalition (ESFC), which was established to empower retail and food service sectors to embrace a sustainable future, held its first online event, attended by representatives from Migros, Ahold Delhaize, the European Commission, EuroCommerce, FoodDrinkEurope, and Wageningen. Economic research.

"Urgency and Collective Action"

The event aimed to address a range of pressing issues related to the sustainable evolution of the food industry, including examining the rationale behind food impact assessments for actors in the food sector and strategies for measuring and communicating the environmental and socio-economic impact of food and beverage products on a large scale.

"In response to the critical challenges presented by the current food system, the European Sustainable Food Coalition continues with a mission of urgency and collective action," commented Markus Linder, co-initiator of EFSC and CEO of inoqo. "Food retailers, food suppliers, and F&B brands need to rally around a common vision for decarbonizing the food industry."

The food sector currently accounts for more than a third (34%) of global greenhouse gas emissions, as well as 70% of biodiversity losses, and ESFC advocates for decisive action by players in the food industry.

One Way

For example, as noted, many food businesses currently rely on category average data to report their Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions, an approach that assigns a generalized impact value to a category without considering the ingredients and unique composition of each product.

"If you develop your Scope 3 footprint based on global emission factors, the only way to show a reduction is to change your assortment," said Grant Sprick, Vice President of Climate and Environment at Ahold Delhaize. "Otherwise, you cannot account for the activities you and your supply chain do at the farm."

As Sprick added, the business case for assessing product-level impact can be compelling, leading to potentially higher return on investment, better performance in benchmarks, and other opportunities.

"Moreover, it presents a unique opportunity for retailers to engage customers and drive loyalty, encouraging them to make more sustainable choices," he said.

Collecting Primary Data

At the heart of ESFC's mission is promoting the collection of primary data, with the aim of preventing overly optimistic assessments of products without primary data.

The coalition emphasizes methodologies that encourage the transition to primary data at all stages of the life cycle, along with alignment and methodological harmonization.

Advocating for an open and unified approach to impact assessment, ESFC seeks to generate consistent and comparable results while encouraging innovation. In a statement, it said its primary goal is to integrate labeling solutions for product impact assessment, such as 2050Food, Eaternity, and inoqo, with primary data evaluated by member organizations such as Agreena, CoolFarmTool, and Klim.

In addition, ESFC supports the establishment of a European F&B impact certification system aligned with future EU regulations to empower consumers for ecological transition and ecological claims, contributing to the sustainability of the sector. (Photo: Freepik)