Fairtrade International (FLO) has increased minimum prices and required price gaps for different Fairtrade coffees in reaction to the recent spike in prices.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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...
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 (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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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...
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
Around 1.2 million farmers and workers around the world are estimated to have benefited from Fairtrade certification and labelling schemes in 2009, says FLO, with coffee still the largest category.
Cargill’s global food safety activities have landed it recognition by the International Union of Food Science and Technology (IUoFST), which will next week present the firm with a new award in the field.
A new study has suggested that a cross-linked a pectin coat could improve the stability of natural oil bodies, making their potential for industrial use more viable.
The organisers of the new Biodiversity Awards to be given at the HIE trade show in Madrid later this year are now seeking entries from companies with conservation-related initiatives or programmes linked to a product or supply chain.
A UK consumer study has uncovered serious misunderstandings about what ‘organic’ food is, with one in four people admitting confusion and one in five believing organic food is lower in fat.
TNO has teamed up with industrial algae producer Ingrepro Renewables for a two year research project investigating the extraction of proteins, healthy oils, and possible carbohydrates from algae.
The Food Ethics Council (FEC) has published a set of recommendations to improve social justice, after its year-long Food and Fairness Inquiry. The next step involves spreading the word stimulating debate with business and government policy-makers.
The Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) Round Table has formally adopted ten guiding principles to give a coherent way for assessing and communicating the environmental performance of food and drink products.
Sustainability has become a mainstream concern for UK consumers but does not necessarily translate into altered shopping behaviours, according to a new survey from The Nielsen Company.
New voluntary standards for the responsible production of soy have been agreed by the industry roundtable, and the first certified material from South America is expected to be in the market in 2011.
Food companies and consumers have moved from talking about sustainability to taking action in the last 18 months, says Solae – and the societal change that is taking place will help propel more growth in the soy sector.
A new research project suggests there is a wide gap between what consumers say their ethical and environmental concerns are, and what they actually buy; food companies should assess the impact the info they provide.
Two new surveys indicate that animal welfare is playing a greater role in food purchasing decisions in the UK, beating food additives as the most worrying issue in consumers’ minds.
New Britain Palm Oil (NBPOL) has completed a major acquisition that increases its plantation area by more than 50 per cent, at a time when a shift is underway towards use of oil produced without causing deforestation.
The UK and other developed countries’ food supplies could be badly affected by global water shortages – and exacerbate the problem, according to a new report from an alliance of engineering bodies.
Organic food brands are turning to sustainability in an effort to justify their price premium and combat declining sales, according to Organic Monitor.
Segregated sustainable palm oil will be available on the European market in the coming months, as IOI-Loders Crokaan and New Britain open dedicated refineries. The news marks the latest step towards changing the commodity supply chain.
A new initiative is underway to develop to supply chain for oil from the African Allanblackia tree oil in food and personal care products by devising a verification scheme for sustainable and ethical trade.
Corporate responsibility is now accepted as a major part of doing business, even when the economic climate is less than ideal. FoodNavigator.com rounds up the main messages of some of the world’s biggest food and beverage companies.
France’s Group Casino has pledged to remove palm oil from all its own brand products, starting with 200 by the end of this year, for environmental and health reasons, and use only certified sustainable palm oil in non-food products.
A new ranking of major food and beverage companies by their corporate social responsibility is published today, with Unilever, Nestle and Danone occupying the top three spots.
Corporate responsibility is not just about writing cheques for charity or mitigating impacts, says Nestle boss. It’s about creating value for communities and stakeholders in the long term.
Marks & Spencer’s new sustainability commitments could open up new opportunities for its supplier manufacturers, as it plans to engage its business partners and make sustainability a driver of innovation.
Reduction of meat and dairy intake on climate change grounds would pose nutritional concerns for some nutrients but better public health advice on alternative sources and fortification could bridge the gap, write nutritional and climate experts from the...
More resources and regulatory support are needed to develop fair trade schemes, says a new opinion from the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC). Approaches should be harmonised where they agree, and their differences clearly communicated.
