Sustainable Food Summit to tackle sourcing

08-Apr-2011 - Issues surrounding the sustainable sourcing of food ingredients will come under discussion at the Sustainable Foods Summit in Amsterdam in June, as the food industry is rising to the challenge of greening the supply chain and reporting on impacts.

High prices prompt new Fairtrade standards for coffee

24-Mar-2011 - Fairtrade International (FLO) has increased minimum prices and required price gaps for different Fairtrade coffees in reaction to the recent spike in prices.

Ethical shopping may detract from charity, German study suggests

07-Mar-2011 - Over a quarter of German consumers put ethical consumption ahead of other forms of charitable behaviour, with five predominant profiles according to preference, suggests new research.

Recession may push Fairtrade off consumer radar

28-Feb-2011 - Fairtrade claims are currently less important to UK shoppers than health and even animal welfare product claims, data from MMR Research Worldwide indicates – while figures from the Fairtrade Foundation suggest ongoing growth.

Sustainable sourcing on the rise but not universal, Leatherhead report

15-Feb-2011 - Sustainability concerns are having an increasing impact on food companies’ supply chain practices, finds a new report from Leatherhead, with more organic and Fairtrade products being offered and more ethical approaches to ingredient sourcing.

Methods needed to measure social impacts of sustainability, DSM director

14-Feb-2011 - Major food companies are paying more attention to the social impacts of their products, and that means developing new ways of meauring the impacts of sustainability programmes on people, says DSM’s director of sustainability.

Not enough science for green omni-label for food, Defra

08-Feb-2011 - There is not enough robust science to support the development of an omni-label to accurately inform consumers of the environmental impacts of food products, according to a new UK report.

Common ground in the food system over food justice

01-Feb-2011 - The Food and Fairness Inquiry threw up much common ground between industry and other participants, says DG of the Food and Drink Federation – but an adjudicator over manufacturer-retailer relations is still needed as soon as possible.

European local food logo, professionalised local food systems proposed

28-Jan-2011 - A new European logo for local foods could help consumers identify products sold a short distance from their place of origin, says the Dutch regional councillor behind an opinion on professionalising local food systems to bolster regional economies and rebalance power in the food supply chain.

Danisco tips sustainable emulsifiers for bright future despite limited uptake

14-Jan-2011 - Danisco says industry interest in its sustainable palm oil-based emulsifiers has been hit by continued input price pressures, but still insists they have a bright future.

New Britain Palm Oil to complete refinery revamp by end of H1 2011

05-Jan-2011 - New Britain Palm Oil (NBPOL) says an extension of its Papua New Guinea palm oil refinery to handle products required by confectionery giant Ferrero should be operational by mid 2011.

Recession impact on organics varies across Europe

13-Dec-2010 - Fortunes for the organic food and drink market in Europe are patchy, according to a new report from Organic Monitor, with Sweden and France seeing double digit growth while other countries stagnated or even contracted.

Ethical label proliferation and competition cause concern

03-Dec-2010 - Ethical labels and schemes may become too closely associated with big brands that use them and discourage competitors from adopting them too, participants in a Two Tomorrows roundtable heard.

Policymakers critical for sustainable consumption, roundtable finds

29-Nov-2010 - Political leadership is crucial to encouraging more sustainable food consumption, attendees at a Kellogg’s Breakfast Club meeting heard this month, with industry and civil society playing important roles too.

Kievit seeks certification for palm oil-based spray dried emulsions

22-Nov-2010 - FrieslandCampina Kievit will soon be able to guarantee the sustainability of ingredients containing palm oil in accordance with RSPO standards, as it is seeking certification in response to customer request and consumers demands.

Dispatches from the CIAA Congress

Partnerships and science are key to food for the future

22-Nov-2010 - The EU food sector can remain competitive and tackle challenges that lay ahead by forging strong partnerships, looking outside its own borders, and putting scientific advances to the best use, an expert panel on the future of food concluded.

Biodiversity award winners show food industry what’s possible

18-Nov-2010 - Unilever and Coop Switzlerland’s efforts to promote conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity serve as positive examples and can help push biodiversity up the agenda of the food industry, says the Union for Ethical Biotrade following the first Biodiversity Awards for the food industry.

Logo for sustainable palm oil launched by RSPO

09-Nov-2010 - The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) has launched a logo that can be displayed on product packaging to inform consumers that the palm oil within has been sourced following RSPO rules.

Dutch palm oil to be RSPO only by 2015

05-Nov-2010 - All palm oil used in The Netherlands will be certified by the RSPO by 2015, as all the suppliers and buyers in the Dutch market have signed a manifesto and pledged to work towards this goal.

‘Double pyramid’ shows healthy eating-environment link-up

13-Oct-2010 - The most environmentally-friendly foods are also those which are healthiest for humans, concludes a new study from a food and nutrition think tank that proposes a ‘double-pyramid’ of nutrition and environmental impact.

Dispatches from EFFA conference

Sustainability will be a prerequisite for flavour industry, EFFA president

12-Oct-2010 - The development of better extraction methods and control over growing fruit will enable the flavour sector to meet increasing demand for naturally sourced flavours, despite pressures of natural resources, says EFFA president.

UN says it expects EU Parliament committee to adopt aquaculture guidelines as ‘formality’

07-Oct-2010 - The UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) says it believes approval of its recently drawn up aquaculture guidelines by an EU Parliament committee in January 2011 will be a “formality”.

Danisco brands xylitol as study claims low-carbon benefits for firm's production method

04-Oct-2010 - Danisco says a new independent life cycle assessment (LCA) shows that a ‘unique’ hydrolysis method for its newly branded version of the low-calorie sweetener xylitol can yield environmental impact savings of up to 99 per cent.

Simplicity and consistency urged for ethical food labels

01-Oct-2010 - Existing ethical and environmental food labels are poorly understood by consumers, and even those seeking them out struggle to understand them, consumer group Which? has found.