Two years ago, the European Commission officially launched the EU Code of Conduct on Responsible Food Marketing and Business Practices.

According to Eurocommerce, farmers, food processors, retailers, wholesalers, foodservice operators, and traders across Europe are proud of the role they played in shaping the Code, amid the pandemic, collaborating with the Commission, NGOs, consumer groups, unions, and others in a truly collaborative project for more sustainable food systems.

Today we can count 488 voluntary commitments, from the 134 Code signatories.

These include:

93 commitments for a climate-neutral food chain

92 commitments for a circular and resource-efficient food chain

83 commitments for healthy, balanced, and sustainable diets for all consumers

Of course, the Code alone cannot deliver sustainable and resilient food systems. To this end, we - the businesses that grow, produce, sell, and deliver great food in Europe - have clear ideas on how to accelerate the journey towards sustainable and resilient food systems.

For example, we need to stimulate more public and private investments, we need support for innovation and infrastructure, and we need a coherent regulatory environment that helps the agri-food chain survive and thrive on their sustainability journey. These enablers will fuel more commitments to the Code, including from smaller companies.

So, in the collaborative spirit of the Code, let's continue the dialogue with all stakeholders. Working together, the ambitious goals set in the Code will be within our reach! (Photo: Freepik)