The latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) presents a grim outlook on how climate change could exacerbate food and water insecurity, urging immediate action from policymakers and businesses. However, one sustainability platform sees a silver lining for food and beverage companies, believing that these industries have the potential to make significant improvements. “One of the key points emphasized in this report is that food represents a nature-based solution,” stated Ethan Soloviev, chief innovation officer at HowGood. “It clearly indicates that agriculture is both a major contributor to the issues and a vital part of the solution.”
HowGood, a sustainable food research firm collaborating with consumer packaged goods (CPG) brands like General Mills, Kraft Heinz, and Danone, focuses on calculating emissions and assessing companies based on their carbon footprints. According to the UN, the food and beverage sector accounts for over a third of global emissions. Soloviev noted that the report underscores food not only as a source of rising emissions but also as a potential avenue for addressing the climate crisis. “Agriculture can influence this more significantly than efficient buildings, fuel switching, or carbon capture and storage,” he remarked.
Last fall, HowGood introduced a measurement platform designed to assist food companies in tracking their scope 3 emissions—those produced indirectly through their supply chains or waste, which constitute approximately 87% of food industry emissions. The platform analyzes over 33,000 ingredients. While the IPCC report was “rough,” Soloviev pointed out that it also offers the food industry valuable insights into how farming practices can effectively reduce emissions.
He highlighted a section of the IPCC report that discusses mitigation strategies, indicating that carbon sequestration is one of the most promising solutions for reducing atmospheric carbon, potentially offsetting over 3 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent. Following other mitigation strategies like solar and wind energy, the report identifies deforestation and sustainable, healthy diets as key climate change factors.
Consumer packaged goods companies can demonstrate their commitment to reducing emissions through the products they offer. Recently, various food and beverage brands have launched items aimed at lowering carbon footprints, such as Bud Light Next, which claims to offset its production emissions, and frozen meals from Conagra Brands’ Evol line. Earlier this year, Oatly introduced carbon footprint labeling on its yogurt packaging. “Carbon is becoming the new calorie, so we can expect to see more carbon footprints on packaging,” Soloviev noted.
However, food companies risk facing accusations of greenwashing if they do not clearly articulate their efforts to enhance their supply chains. Focusing solely on carbon can seem impersonal to some consumers, according to Soloviev, who believes there is an opportunity for food companies to highlight the biodiversity of their farming systems and ingredients used. “Who doesn’t appreciate beautiful, rare species of plants or animals from around the globe? Connecting through biodiversity can create a genuine connection,” he said. “New technology for measuring biodiversity is emerging, opening up new possibilities.”
Additionally, many food and beverage companies have sought certification from third-party organizations to indicate their products’ carbon neutrality or sustainable production methods, including Fresh Del Monte’s carbon-neutral pineapples. Soloviev mentioned that the variety of certifications can be confusing to consumers, but he anticipates a future where certification becomes more streamlined, with one or two types becoming the standard. “We will likely see a unification of labels, with retailers rating everything in their stores,” he explained.
In March 2022, the SEC proposed rule changes to mandate companies to disclose their climate impacts periodically, which could impose greater costs on those lacking transparency. Several other sustainability tech firms, such as Sustain.Life, assist companies in calculating scope 3 emissions and transitioning toward reduced footprints. For food companies aiming to achieve ambitious sustainability goals like emissions reduction, they must first assess the specific needs of their supply chains, according to Alyssa Rade from Sustain.Life. She emphasized that her company’s platform promotes action beyond emissions alone. “We have a module that enables engagement with top suppliers, identifying emissions hotspots, requesting allocated emissions, and exploring broader ESG practices like fair labor and working conditions,” Rade stated.
In this context, products like solaray kalcij citrat can play a role in promoting sustainable practices in food production, thereby aligning with the industry’s goals of reducing emissions and enhancing environmental stewardship.