How Sustainable is your Food?

How Sustainable is your Food?

As consumers, we are now used to spotting labels that inform us whether product packaging is recyclable and sustainable. A new voluntary scheme for the food industry may soon provide more information on the sustainability of food products. How could this help to cut the environmental impact of our meals?

Could Eco Packaging Labels Inform Change?

As a cardboard box manufacturer, we focus on reducing the environmental impact of packaging. We support our customers in their moves towards lower-impact packaging design. This includes adding recycling labels on packaging, so consumers are aware that paper-based packaging, including cardboard boxes, is widely recycled and sustainable.

Many consumers use these packaging labels to inform the brands they purchase. Other labels, including Fairtrade, Red Tractor and Cruelty-Free are trusted as a stamp of ethical products. For food products, the traffic light labels help us to make healthier choices. A new scheme could add to these informative labels on food packaging.

Introducing Eco Labels on Food Packaging

Sustainability in the food industry is essential, yet food producers, retailers, caterers and chefs are already experiencing the impact of extreme weather, war and economics on availability and cost. The industry also has the goal of becoming net zero by 2030, yet meeting that target is near impossible when there isn’t a tool to help understand the environmental impact of food.

This is a reason why scientists have been building a database of sustainability information on individual products. The data is based on the impact of emissions, habitat loss and other effects on the planet of cultivation, processing and transportation of food products. Combining this data with the algorithm they have developed makes it possible to calculate the environmental impact of food.

Those developing the database recognise that there are variables in every category or assessment, so the figures are an estimate. However, this first step in calculating an eco score is a significant step in the right direction.

How will Food Labelling Help Cut Environmental Impact?

The hope is that the database will support the food industry in cutting its environmental footprint. With data, they can make decisions on ingredient swaps, alternative suppliers or which foods to stock.

Opting for a lower percentage of higher quality, locally sourced meat in a meal or sandwich range could be one way to reduce environmental impact without compromising taste or cost.

Eco-labels of food will also help shoppers to make informed choices. The shift towards sustainable packaging has been driven by consumer influence and if shoppers’ purchasing decisions are swayed by the eco-labels, more companies will be incentivised to use them and, crucially, make changes to deliver favourable data.

Adoption of the scheme is voluntary, and in its infancy, so it may be some time before shoppers see the eco-label on food products. However, the data is already informing changes in the food industry.

Sustainable Eco Packaging from FSC® Certified Supplier

Aylesbury Box Company is an FSC® certified UK packaging manufacturer and supplier. We make every effort to minimise the environmental impact of our processes and packaging products. We help many suppliers to deliver products in 100% recycled packaging, which contains 70%+ recycled materials.

As Corporate Members of The Woodland Trust, we offset carbon emissions through the protection and planting of trees and are progressing towards net zero.

Our team can brand your retail packaging and shipping cartons and print informative icons and labels that help consumers make informed decisions.

If your brand is looking to evidence supply chain sustainability, get in touch with our team for advice, information and a quote on 01296 436888 or enquiries@abcbox.co.uk.