Committing to Sustainability in a More Conscious World

j-mel- Stock.adobe.com

Consumers are more aware than ever about the environmental impact of the mass production of consumer packaged goods, from growing crops and raising livestock to the processing and transportation of these goods. This knowledge influences the way they spend their money, preferring to buy products they know have a lower environmental footprint.

“Sustainability is about more than just reducing carbon footprints – today’s consumers want comprehensive information about the impact of their food choices on nature,” says Kyle Brookmeyer, head of sustainability at FrieslandCampina Ingredients (Amersfoort, The Netherlands), citing a 2022 survey from the Union of Ethical BioTrade (UEBT).¹According to UEBT, 54% of surveyed consumers said it was important to have information about a product’s impact on biodiversity on the packaging or product webpage. In that same survey, 52% of respondents said they wanted to know the origin of the ingredient, and 47% said they wanted to know the social impact of sourcing the ingredients.

According to the United Nations, human use of land, primarily for food production, is a major driver of biodiversity loss because land converted to agriculture often means the destruction of plant species and in turn habitat loss for many animal species. Furthermore, climate change has a role in increasing the loss of our planet’s biodiversity. Agriculture has a role in both declining biodiversity and climate change.

“The agricultural industry plays a notable role in greenhouse gas emissions – it accounts for around 24% of the world’s total emissions. Dairy specifically is responsible for approximately 2% of all emissions,²” says Brookmeyer. “We’re at a crossroads; without collective action and positive change, agricultural emissions are set to continue increasing under current policies and measures.³ Everyone in the farming sector has a part to play in making an impact.”

Regenerative Agriculture

Major food producers understand the importance of preserving biodiversity and are investing heavily in mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and promoting regenerative agricultural practices that preserve soil health and encourage biodiversity. As Brookmeyer mentioned, this requires a concerted effort with a high level of collaboration with farmers and customers to achieve ambitious climate goals.

“In one such partnership, we helped Danone achieve a 17.6% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions on dairy ingredients supplied by FrieslandCampina from 2015 to 2020,” explained Brookmeyer. “Together, we had an ambitious vision: to overcome the limits of conventional farming. As part of this, we invested in a range of transformative projects, such as leveraging feed additives to help reduce cattle methane emissions and transitioning to regenerative agriculture practices to enhance soil health and increase carbon sequestration.”

Additionally, FrieslandCampina Ingredients is leveraging technology to monitor the progress of regenerative agricultural efforts to make more informed and effective decisions. “Technology is key to achieving this goal – which is where our biodiversity monitor comes in,” says Brookmeyer. “Developed in collaboration with the Worldwide Fund for Nature’s Netherlands office (WWF) and Rabobank, this unique tool measures the impact and performance of our dairy farms on biodiversity. The biodiversity monitor allows farmers to input all their empirical biodiversity data – such as nitrogen and ammonia levels in the soil, as well as the population dynamics of insects and pollinators. And with better data at our fingertips, we can make effective, informed decisions. This information is then used to strategically select the best techniques to promote biodiversity specifically on their farm.”

The technology has already encouraged data-driven improvements that benefit local ecosystems, he says. One example is promoting natural landscapes rich in trees, hedges, flowers, and ditches that can serve as habitat for animals such as birds and insects. Another example is the decision to mow fields later in the year to provide meadow birds a safe space to use for nesting.

FrieslandCampina Ingredients is not alone in its efforts, of course. Cargill (Wayzata, MN) recently published its 2024 Impact Report detailing efforts to mitigate the company’s climate impact. According to the report, Cargill has invested $100 million in efficiency and sustainability capital products within its operations, transitioned 1.1 million acres to regenerative across North America since 2020, restore 38 million gallons of water to water-stressed regions, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions compared to 2017 baselines, exceeding its goal of reduce absolute operational greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 10% by 2025.⁴ Additionally, Mars (McLean, VA) recently announced a partnership with suppliers like ADM (Chicago, IL) to promote regeneratively grown ingredients in the pet food industry, with the goal of expanding its regenerative agricultural footprint to 5 million acres by 2025.⁵

Animal Agriculture

When it comes to being ethical consumers, animal agriculture is a major factor that impacts purchasing decisions. Consumers want to know that the animals they consume were treated humanely and those who are uncomfortable with raising animals for meat and dairy avoid it altogether or substantially reduce their consumption of animal-based products. Producers of animal-based products are well aware of this, and are making efforts to promote animal welfare and the sustainability of animal farming operations. FrieslandCampina Ingredients, for example, works closely with dairy producers.

“To complement the data-driven insights from our biodiversity monitor, our Foqus planet development remuneration scheme encourages our member dairy farmers to make their farms more sustainable,” says Brookmeyer. “This incentive program allows us to evaluate farmers’ sustainability progress each year and reward them with a bonus based on their results across a number of sustainability-related metrics – funded in part by a cooperative scheme and in part by the company.”

The Foqus planet program also includes requirements such as meadow grazing and the continuous improvement of animal health and welfare. “It helps us ensure that our milk is produced under the best possible conditions, delivering high-performing ingredients with tangible benefits that meet consumers’ health needs, while supporting both the well-being of animals and the environment,” he explains.

Circularity is another important factor to consider when using animal-based products. Bioiberica (Barcelona, Spain), for example, works with what the company calls “byproducts from raw materials of biological origin,” meaning animal byproducts, to produce dietary supplement ingredients such as collagen and hyaluronic acid. A vertically integrated company that is part of the SARIA Group, Bioiberica is in the “unique position to be able to offer maximum assurance in terms of control, traceability, security, cost efficiency and sustainability,” says Jordi Castells, sustainability & environmental manager for Bioiberica.

According to Castells, Bioiberica promotes circularity in the food value chain “by valorising by-products derived from raw materials of biological origin and transforming them into ingredients of therapeutic value to support the health and wellbeing of millions of people worldwide. Up to 90% of our co-products are valorised to support animal and plant health.”

Of course, creating efficiencies in its manufacturing processes is another important way to promote circularity, says Castells. These include regenerating water supplies and curbing resource usage.

Reducing Emissions

There are many creative ways that companies are reducing emissions and water usage. Renewable energy sources are one common way to reduce emissions. According to Castells, Bioiberica has been using green energy since 2020 and is on track to meet its goal of reducing emissions by 30% by 2030. “We’re proud to say that 100% of the electricity we use today in the main facilities comes from renewable sources,” says Castells. “We’re committed to becoming emission-neutral by 2050 by reducing our emissions and offsetting non-avoidable emissions.”

The company is also actively reducing its water usage. Castells says the in 2023, 24% of the water used in Bioiberica’s Palofolls facility in Spain was regenerated. “We are working to increase this proportion further by harnessing the latest advancements in technology to upgrade our manufacturing equipment,” he says.

FrieslandCampina Ingredients has a goal of reducing CO₂ emissions by 63% in 2030. “As part of this, we’re proud to say that our new lactoferrin production facility in Veghel runs on 100% green electricity, which will significantly help to reduce our carbon footprint,” says Brookmeyer. “Plus, in the Netherlands, a significant portion of the green electricity we purchase is generated by our own member farmers. Last year, we purchased electricity from 1,285 of our member dairy farms. Some of this electricity is produced by a process called mono-manure fermentation, which turns methane gas from cattle into electricity.”

Sustainability efforts are challenging and expensive but necessary for the long-term growth and health of a brand. “Sustainability is a non-negotiable for consumers – especially in the food and beverage sector. Recent figures show that nearly half (48%) of shoppers have actively made changes to their diets and lifestyles within the last year to behave more sustainably,⁶” says Brookmeyer. “But when it comes to planet-first nutrition, brands need to do more than just convey ‘environmentally-friendly’ messages. They also need to communicate how their product aligns with additional considerations, like enhanced health benefits, safety, quality, and ethical concerns.”

References

1. UEBT Biodiversity Barometer: The Biodiversity Reckoning 2022. UEBT. https://uebt.org/annual-report-2022. (accessed 2024-11-30).
2. Poore, J.; Nemecek, T. Reducing food’s environmental impacts through producers and consumers. Science. 2018, 360(6392), 987-992. DOI: 10.1126/science.aaq0216
3. Greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture in Europe. The European Environment Agency. October 31, 2024. (accessed 2024-11-30).
4. 2024 Impact Report. Cargill. November 11, 2024. https://www.cargill.com/sustainability/2024-impact-report (2024-11-30).
5. Krawiec, S.Mars partners with suppliers like ADM to bring regeneratively grown ingredients to pet food. Nutritional Outlook. November 25, 2024. https://www.nutritionaloutlook.com/view/mars-partners-with-suppliers-like-adm-to-bring-regeneratively-grown-ingredients-to-pet-food (accessed 2024-11-30).