In a move that marks a significant milestone for ingredient transparency, GNT Group has secured independent third-party verification of its Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) calculation methodology.

Verified by TÜV SÜD in accordance with the internationally recognised ISO 14067 standard, GNT becomes one of the very first food colour manufacturers worldwide to achieve this level of verified carbon accounting for its plant-based EXBERRY colouring portfolio.

The verification validates GNT’s “cradle-to-gate” assessment model, which measures total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions generated across the entire supply chain—from raw material cultivation and harvesting to processing and production up to the factory gate.

Rigorous verification meets industry demand

As regulatory scrutiny intensifies and consumer demand for environmentally responsible products grows, food and beverage manufacturers face mounting pressure to provide verifiable environmental data. By aligning its methodology with ISO 14067, GNT provides brands with standardized, scientifically validated metrics rather than estimates or unverified claims.

This achievement further reinforces GNT’s sustainability standing, following its EcoVadis Platinum rating, which places the company in the top 1% of food manufacturing enterprises globally for environmental, social, and ethical performance.

“This major milestone ensures our customers can rely on independently verified carbon footprint data aligned with ISO standards,” stated Petra Thiele, managing director of GNT Group.

What independent verification means fo brands

For CPG manufacturers, ingredient suppliers, and brand owners, GNT’s verified PCF methodology delivers several tangible advantages across product development, supply chain accounting, and regulatory compliance:

• Accurate Scope 3 emissions accounting: primary ingredient data enables procurement and sustainability teams to measure and report Scope 3 (upstream supply chain) emissions with precision, moving away from industry averages and proxy data.
• Audit-ready compliance: ISO 14067 alignment ensures that product carbon numbers meet strict international guidelines, making them ready for ESG reporting, Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), and upcoming regulations such as the EU Ecodesign framework.
• Mitigation of greenwashing risks: Verified cradle-to-gate figures give brand marketers defensible, transparent proof to support environmental claims on packaging and campaign communications without exposure to regulatory pushback.
• Data-driven decarbonsaation: detailed carbon profiles at the ingredient level empower product developers and recipe formulators to conduct precise life cycle assessments (LCAs) and optimize product eco-design.

“We work closely with our customers on their decarbonisation journeys, and our verified PCF data gives them the information they need to maximize product sustainability,” noted Akshat Rawat, Senior Sustainability Specialist at GNT.

New baseline

As food manufacturers navigate the transition toward net-zero targets, transparency at the individual ingredient level is rapidly changing from a competitive differentiator into a baseline requirement. By establishing a TÜV SÜD-verified PCF calculation for its EXBERRY line, GNT offers a clear roadmap for how ingredient suppliers can provide actionable, audit-ready data to support a cleaner, more accountable food supply chain.