Working together to decarbonise food

Global food and drink companies are quickening their efforts to find ways to net zero. Many have comprehensive plans for reducing emissions that acknowledge the complexity of the supply chain. We know to effect change we cannot achieve net zero without behavioural change. The question is, how can we make it happen and devise effective solutions to decarbonise the way we produce and eat food?

Tetra Pak convened a roundtable to examine what’s needed for future progress on the road to decarbonising the food system, and subsequently produced a report on the findings. Its recommendations are a careful mix of strategies and technologies, identifying a number of key areas to address and placing responsibility on both Government and manufacturers.

Tackling the barriers that prevent us from eating more sustainably, as well as highlighting potential levers to change the behaviours of individuals, corporations and governments, is no mean feat.

Collectively, the combination of politicians, trade bodies and industry experts certainly made steady progress towards suggestions for decarbonisation despite factors such as the need to maintain product quality and safety, and reducing appetite risk in adopting new technologies. High upfront costs of production equipment further contribute to this inertia.

Decarbonising industry will not be easy. The process demands the Government should explore green public procurement, engage more with suppliers and processors and encourage innovation within processing and packaging to ensure that consumers are able to access high quality, safe food with a reduced carbon impact.

None of these reasons is a ground to delay action. Starting now with the decarbonisation of industry would lead to better outcomes for individual companies.

The report calls on the Government to explore green public procurement, engage more with suppliers and processors and encourage innovation within processing and packaging to ensure that consumers access high quality, safe food with a reduced carbon impact.

While the recommendations apply to a collaborative effort between Government and the food and drink sector, the report lays out a framework of a pathway for all parties to invest in their own sustainability plans.

Unless industry can lower its emissions, the world will struggle to reach the GHG reduction targets. It won’t be easy, but the report shows a way forward.

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