6 minute read
Sustainability
Source: Mintel GNPD 28
Lundberg Family Farms Organic Grainspirations Beans & Greens Rice & Quinoa Bowl comprises brown basmati rice mixed with tri-colour quinoa, garbanzo beans, kale, onion and spices, seasoned with lemon, oregano and pepper. It is said to be thoughtfully crafted with the finest organic ingredients and flavours from around the world, containing 11g fibre and 10g protein, and is described as gourmet convenience. The microwaveable, USDA organic certified and vegan product is free from GMOs and gluten, is made with wholegrain, and retails in a 9-oz. pack featuring preparation instructions.
The manufacturer claims to be committed to organic farming practices that benefit the entire ecosystem, leaving the soil, plants, water and wildlife better, and also claims to be living such core values as integrity, sustainability, responsibility and authenticity cooked brown basmati rice*, cooked tri-colour quinoa*, cooked garbanzo beans*, kale*, onion*, high oleic sunflower oil*, seasoning blend* (sea salt, garlic powder*, oregano*, garlic*, lemon juice powder* (maltodextrin*, lemon juice*), sunflower oil*, black pepper*, chili pepper*, lemon peel*, rice concentrate*, thyme*, parsley*, citric acid). *organic
While sustainability appears to have dropped down the list in consumer priorities during the Covid-19 pandemic, this is only likely to be a short-term blip. 29 Two-thirds of consumers are open to changing their eating habits for the environment, with limited choices of sustainable options one of the barriers cited by respondents in a survey. 30 It is clear that the concept of clean label is one that is closely associated with eating more sustainably in the eyes of consumers. The same EU-wide survey found that for some consumers eating sustainably means choosing foods that are ‘minimally processed, traditional’. 30
Source: Elly’s WUNDERLAND 31
“Your organic farmer's bread baking mix. Completely natural, without artificial additives, artificial flavours or colours, flavour enhancers or preservatives. Only a little water is necessary to preserve the great aroma of dried organic whole rye sourdough and Austrian Alpine salt from ehrenwort. To ignite moments of pleasure. Then your dough can rest in the container for half an hour, super easy! Did you bake your bread and want to dispose of the packaging? No problem. It is compostable, so you are doing something good for the environment. You are also welcome to keep them and reuse them as storage jars or gift packaging! Super practical and purely organic. SIMPLE, WONDERFUL, CHANGEABLE.” 31
According to Mintel: “it exemplifies several Mintel Trends, e.g. consumers' desire for local food Locavore) and products that have a stamp of authenticity (The Real Thing). Consumers are also looking to brands to reduce the use of throwaway plastic packaging (Rethink Plastic). In Germany, 62% of adults are more concerned about packaging waste than a year ago and 50% are more likely to recycle packaging.” 32
One of the ways of delivering sustainable and natural ingredients for clean label products could be found in upcycling. According to the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization, one third of the food that is produced for human consumption is wasted, with vast quantities lost at every stage in the supply chain. 33 Not only is this a tremendous waste of resources, but organic material that is not properly handled can cause pollution, greenhouse gas emissions and constitute a public health hazard. In a bid to reduce waste from across the food system, innovators are exploring industrial by-products as sources of natural food ingredients.
Coffee grounds are among the by-products that have proven most interesting to date. Caffelnk, a finalist in the Start-up Innovation Challenge at Fi Europe 2019, has found a way to extract brown, ochre, and beige colourants from grounds. 34 Danish start-up Kaffe Bueno, meanwhile, upcycles spent coffee grounds for use as nutritious ingredients for wellness products. 35
The Coffee Cherry Co also uses coffee by-products; but in this case, the skins of the coffee fruit which it buys from farmers, dries, mills, and wells; as a high-fibre antioxidant for bakery, beverage and confectionery applications. As well as reducing waste, this has social sustainability benefits by bringing a new income stream to farmers. 36
De-fatted seeds, the by-product of oil production, are another material of interest. Planetarians' patentpending technology uses thermomechanical engineering to turn de-fatted sunflower seeds into 50% protein concentrate and 35% protein flour — and it is experimenting with other waste materials, such as coffee grounds, orange peel, fruit and nut pulp. 37
Linnolat, a start-up that was accepted into the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) Food accelerator in 2019, uses defatted hazelnuts, coconuts, and sesame seeds as a vegan alternative to milk and white chocolate (both of which require considerable quantities of milk protein). 38
Spent brewers' yeast is the starting material for New York-based, Rise Products, which developed a patentpending technology to create nutritious bakery ingredients. 39 Dutch start-up FUMI Ingredients uses spent yeast for a very different purpose, as the source of an egg white substitute with impressive foaming and binding properties. 40
It is not only innovative start-ups that are exploiting the potential of by-products, however. Established companies, too, are in on the action.
In January 2020 the EU Smart Protein project began at the School of Food and Nutritional Science at University of Cork, involving 33 industry partners (including Barilla, AB InBev, ProVeg International). Funded to the tune of €8.2 million under Horizon 2020, with an additional €1 million coming from industry, the project is exploring how the by-products produced during pasta, bread and beer production can be tapped to make microbial biomass proteins for plant-based meats, fish, sea-food, cheese, infant formula, dairy, and baked goods. 41
Source: ReGrained 42
ReGrained rescues the nutritious grain created every time beer is brewed.
Powered by patent-pending tools and culinary creativity, we elevate this overlooked but awesome ingredient to the hero status it deserves with our award-winning upcycled nutrition bars, puffs and premium ingredients.
Source: WTRMLN WTR 43
Cold pressed watermelon juice from discarded watermelons.
Another important clean label point of focus is sustainable sourcing. Over the last decade, many ingredients firms have developed innovative sourcing strategies that are geared towards securing longterm supply of essential inputs, of high quality and at stable prices, via transparent supply chains.
Often this means 'vertical integration' or working directly with producers or cooperatives (sometimes in partnership with trusted local operators or non-governmental organisations), and ensuring producers are paid fairly. But beyond remuneration, they also help ensure producers have the technical expertise and/or equipment to maximise yields, while adhering to sustainable agricultural practices.
For many companies, sustainable sourcing comes with a side order of investment in the wider community, via initiatives to improve social wellbeing, health, education, or infrastructure. In helping ensure farmers' families and communities thrive, they reduce the likelihood of farmers ending their activity and seeking better conditions elsewhere.
Source: Mintel GNPD 44
Bellucci Organic 100% Italian Extra Virgin Olive Oil is made with olives from the 2018-2019 harvest season and is crafted predominantly from Biancolilla, Nocellara and Cerasuola olives from small family groves, which are pressed using cooperative mills. The finely crafted, fresh Italian oil is described as full of flavour, healthy-loving oleic acids and peppery antioxidants, and is third-party certified by Bureau Veritas, which is said to ensure its authenticity. The kosher and USDA Organic-certified premium product is free from GMO and gluten, and retails in a recyclable 16.9-fl. oz. pack bearing the USDA Organic, NonGMO Project Verified, Gluten-Free and Bureau Veritas Certification logos, and featuring the ISO 22005 certificate. The manufacturer is stated to use blockchain technology to bring deeper insight and accountability to the journey from grove to grocer.