Tunley and CSR‑A publish guidance to strengthen sustainability claims

Tunley Environmental and CSR Accreditation (CSR‑A) have published a new whitepaper aimed at helping food and drink brands communicate sustainability and corporate social responsibility (CSR) activity with greater credibility and confidence.

The guidance, Evidence Over Claims: Safeguarding Corporate Social Responsibility, responds to rising scrutiny of environmental and social claims and offers practical routes from broad statements to evidence‑backed communication.

The whitepaper examines the growing pressure organisations face to ensure environmental and social claims are accurate, proportionate and supported by evidence.”

The paper recognises that while many businesses are taking meaningful action, evolving regulation and complex reporting frameworks make it hard to know what can legitimately be said — particularly under regimes such as the CSRD and the UK’s Green Claims Code.

For food and drink manufacturers, the whitepaper sets out a clear toolkit for reducing greenwashing risk and improving stakeholder trust.

It highlights the role of life cycle assessments (LCAs) and business carbon assessments (BCAs) in quantifying product and site impacts, and recommends biodiversity footprinting and impact reporting to capture wider environmental and social outcomes.

The paper positions accreditation and third‑party verification as the bridge between internal activity and credible external claims.

Ellis Clark, head of marketing at Tunley Environmental, framed the guidance as a practical aid for companies navigating a crowded regulatory landscape: “Many organisations genuinely want to do the right thing, but sustainability communication has become increasingly difficult to navigate. This whitepaper is about helping businesses communicate their progress responsibly and with confidence.”