The number of sustainability schemes and eco-labels is increasing in the food industry.

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM, January 16, 2024 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Adoption rates of sustainability schemes and eco-labels are expected to increase in North America this year. Ecovia Intelligence finds that Organic and Non-GMO Project are leading in terms of sales, however there is growing proliferation in terms of number of schemes and labels.

Many food and ingredient firms are adopting sustainability schemes and eco-labels as part of their sustainability commitments. It is also common for operators to make green claims about products, ingredients, and packaging. Third party schemes and labels gives legitimacy to some of these marketing claims. Some companies are also adopting them for sustainability reporting purposes, to demonstrate they are taking action to reduce impacts and / or undertake ethical sourcing.

In terms of adoption rate and sales, organic is the dominant eco-label. Retail sales of organic foods are close to USD 70 billion in North America. The US has the largest market for organic foods in the world; organic products now represent 6% of food sales in the country. USDA organic is the most widely adopted eco-label.

The Non-GMO Project is second in terms of product sales. Launched in 2010, there are now over 60,000 certified products with sales exceeding USD 40 billion in 2022. Like organic, the major motive for consumers to buy certified non-GMO products are health concerns.

Rainforest Alliance, Food Alliance and Fair Trade sustainability schemes are also established. Like organic and non-GMO, these certification schemes cover wide product ranges. A new development is that new sustainability schemes are being introduced for specific product groups and ingredients.

The Marine Stewardship Council is leading the sustainable seafood category. Almost 20% of all wild catch is now certified according to the scheme. In the US, over 80% of landings are certified. Certified Humane and American Grassfed are popular labelling schemes in the ethical meat category.

Many of the sustainability schemes for ingredients do not have consumer facing labels. The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) is well established for palm oil; the scheme now covers 20% of global production, however the RSPO label is usually not present on products with certified palm oil. ProTerra and Round Table on Responsible Soy are the most popular schemes for sustainable soy.

The growing importance of biodiversity is leading to new sustainability schemes to emerge. The Union for Ethical BioTrade (UEBT) standard is based on the Convention on Biological Diversity and the United Nations BioTrade Initiative Principles and Criteria. Some of the certified food ingredients include aloe vera, vanilla, hibiscus, moringa, carnauba, shea butter, sugar, and essential oils.

The Wildlife Friendly Enterprise Network provides certification to organizations that contribute to wildlife conservation. Launched in 2007, the Certified Wildlife Friendly label is becoming evident on food products. The scheme covers over 13 million hectares of wetlands, forests and grasslands. Bananas, coffee, honey, nuts, and fruits are some of the certified foods.

As will be shown at the Sustainable Foods Summit, some pioneers are adopting multiple sustainability schemes. Bonterra Organic Estates, one of the leading sustainable wineries in the world, was an early adopter of the Regenerative Organic Certification. Launched in 2020, the scheme has been adopted by over 130 brands. The certification covers 185 farms and 52,517 smallholder farms that manage 5.7 million acres of land.

Bonterra Organic Estates has also adopted the Climate Neutral sustainability scheme. In 2021, it was the first winery to launch certified Climate Neutral organic wines. As well as a Certified B Corporation, Bonterra Organic Estates has adopted the TRUE Zero Waste certification.

Guayaki Yerba Mate, another pioneer, is also looking beyond organic certification by adopting several new sustainability schemes. Its yerba mate drinks are certified Non-GMO, Fair For Life, as well as Regenerative Organic. The certifications assure consumers that its key ingredient is ethically sourced from the Atlantic Forest.

Ecovia Intelligence expects the number of sustainability schemes and eco-labels to continue to increase in 2024. Organic and Non-GMO will continue to lead in terms of product sales, however new schemes are taking off. As adoption rates increase, expect to see more eco-labels on product packs.

An update on sustainability schemes and eco-labels will be given at the Sustainable Foods Summit, hosted in San Francisco on 24-25th January 2024.

Iveta Kovacova
Ecovia Intelligence
+44 2085670788
press@ecoviaint.com
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