Practical sustainability initiatives adopted by food companies and the future role of eco-labels were extensively debated at the Sustainable Foods Summit, which brought together 140 executives from various sectors of the food industry in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, on 10-11 June.
The food industry has over 500 eco-labels, representing various production and environmental standards, but more and more companies are turning instead to developing ecological brands, delegates heard.
Irish Minister Ciarán Cuffe opened proceedings by highlighting the important role that governments can play in promoting sustainable agriculture and food production.
With fair trade the fastest growing sector in the global eco-labelled food market, the second session focused on the potential of fair trade.
Presentations were given by three of the leading certification schemes for fair trade products: Fairtrade Labelling Organisation International (FLO), Institute for Marketecology (IMO) and Ecocert.
The panel debated the importance of fair trade for growers in the northern hemisphere, since existing standards focus on growers in the south.
Amarjit Sahota, director of event organiser Organic Monitor, highlighted the growing importance of sustainability in the organic food industry, with rising consumer expectations and the success of retailers' private labels leading organic food companies to adopt organic-plus strategies.
The sentiment was echoed by Dutch organic specialist Eosta, whose managing director Volkert Engelsman provided details of its new Sustainability Flower scheme.
Two leading European retailers, Co-op Switzerland and Albert Heijn, gave details of their private labels for sustainable products, arguing that brands had greater resonance with consumers.
Albert Heijn's Puur & Eerlijk (Pure & Honest) private label has shown a 20 per cent sales increase since its launch in summer 2009, while Co-op Switzerland has developed eight brands for ethical products that now generate approximately 7 per cent of the company’s revenue.
The last session focused on sustainable sourcing & packaging. The ecological impact of packaging was discussed by Reggs, which outlined the various types of sustainable packaging available, including for organic salads, while the growing application of compostable packaging was further elaborated by Novamont.
The next editions of the Sustainable Foods Summit, a series of international summits focusing on key issues facing the food industry with regard to sustainability and eco-labels, are set to take place in North America and Europe in 2011.
