Nestle Sustainably Sourced chocolate is crafted using Rainforest Alliance-certified cocoa.

Travellers will be able to personalize their 170 g and 280 g bars by adding their own messages to the product sleeves.

“Through creative branding, we can provide transparency on the origin of the cocoa used in our chocolate,” said Aura Sanchez, head of marketing at Nestle Travel Retail. “It enables us to raise awareness about our longstanding commitments to supporting cocoa-farming families and the long-term sustainability of cocoa production.”

Nestle Sustainably Sourced Cocoa will also be available in a recyclable paper pouch.

The B.C. Food and Beverage (BCFB) association recently conducted a study to evaluate the current state of the F&B manufacturing industry in B.C. The study revealed that the province’s food manufacturing sector is facing several critical issues, including increased pressure on margins from retailers.

Tight margins

According to the study, over the past five years, revenue growth, if any, has primarily come from business expansion and new product launches rather than price increases, which have been difficult to achieve with grocery retailers. This has eroded gross margins, particularly for small to medium-sized manufacturers.

James Donaldson

In an exclusive interview with Food in Canada, James Donaldson, CEO of BCFB, explained that in retail, retailers won’t accept new products and prioritize their own inventory during blackout periods. He further explained small companies struggle because they “don’t have strong cash flow” to navigate difficulties as well as lack negotiating power to set better pricing on inputs like ingredients and packaging. Small suppliers “pretty much just have to take whatever” is given. They can’t pass on rising prices and must accept them, which is unsustainable in the long term.

Although inflation is stabilizing, Donaldson cautioned “it couldn’t just change again,” and with low margins, small companies “can’t get outside lending,” thus having no money to reinvest in their business, which makes growth impossible.

The other issues highlighted in the State of the Industry Report are the rising cost of:

• inputs;
• skilled labour required to operate equipment/support production; and
• acquiring or renting appropriate manufacturing facilities/buildings or suitable land to build these facilities.

Statistics Canada data shows that while end retailers enjoy modest profit margins, small to medium-sized manufacturers are facing average profit margins of -9.3 per cent. This contrast shows the financial strain on smaller businesses in the industry.

An infographic explaining the challenges facing B.C. F&B manufacturers. Image © BCFC

Solutions

To address these challenges, the study offers five recommendations.

1. Support the development of a comprehensive competitiveness strategy
BCFB suggests collaborating with the B.C. government to build a detailed plan aimed at improving the overall competitiveness of the food and beverage industry. This strategy will focus on industry-wide challenges such as high input costs and limited commercial space availability. By outlining specific steps and actions, the partnership can fortify the industry’s long-term sustainability and fight economic fluctuations.

2. Improve access to affordable commercial and industrial space
Due to a shortage of industrial land, BCFB advises conducting a thorough assessment of agricultural land reserve (ALR) lands to identify areas suitable for food and beverage manufacturing. Further, incentivizing landowners to prioritize leasing to this sector can help alleviate the scarcity of suitable production space.

3. Facilitate additional investments
By reinforcing existing funding programs or introducing new ones, the government can assist manufacturers in enhancing their operational capabilities and expanding their businesses. This investment in infrastructure will enable productivity gains and foster industry growth.

4. Support programs to attract skilled labour
BCFB has recommended tailored funding initiatives to address specific workforce challenges. This includes programs designed to facilitate upskilling opportunities for existing employees and incentivize the recruitment of skilled workers. By investing in the industry’s human capital, the government can strengthen the workforce and promote long-term industry sustainability, the report said.

5. Provide support to address the imbalance between grocery retail and the F&B manufacturing industry
BCFB calls for measures to fix the imbalance of power between grocery retailers and food and beverage manufacturers. This includes advocating for the implementation of the Grocery Code of Conduct to promote fairer business practices and pricing structures. Additionally, supporting initiatives to introduce more competition into the grocery retail sector can help mitigate the undue influence exerted by major retailers, thereby promoting a more equitable business environment for manufacturers.

The challenges faced by B.C. F&B manufacturers have led them to relocate to nearby regions such as Alberta and Washington state. For instance, Sunrise Foods and Susgrainable shifted their operations to Alberta. Similarly, Conagra Canada, Golden Boy Foods, Aspire Bakeries, and Gizella Pastry have also closed their operations in B.C. and relocated their production to other jurisdictions.

Donaldson stressed the urgency of the matter saying, “We’ve seen businesses close their doors, with each closure representing a loss of at least 200 employees.”

He further said if food production moves out of the province, it is not coming back. “We need a strategy and blueprint now because the longer we wait, the more difficult it will be to recover. It’s already happening…we can’t wait another five years…we need to be having these conversations now.”

The study reviewed the historical and current state of B.C. F&B manufacturing operations and identified current challenges to propose potential actions. It included secondary research using publicly available sources, an online survey of 47 B.C. F&B companies of different sizes and sub-industries, telephone interviews with 10 companies, and a facilitated roundtable with 10 industry executives.

For the full report, click here.

In 2022, CCME released “A Roadmap to Strengthen the Management of Single-use and Disposable Plastics”. The Single-use Plastics Prohibition Regulations, which was published in June 2022, prohibits the manufacture, import and sale of single-use plastics (e.g. checkout bags, cutlery, foodservice ware, ring carriers, stir sticks and straws). In November 2023, the Federal Court overturned the ban on single-use plastic based on the decision that the classification of plastics was too broad to be listed on the List of Toxic Substances in Schedule 1 under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act.

In April 2023, the Recycled Content and Labelling for Plastic Products Regulations were proposed alongside the release of a paper outlining reporting requirements to the Federal Plastics Registry. The proposed regulations would require minimum levels of recycled post-consumer plastics in packaging (food contact packaging excluded except for beverage containers) and require accurate information on recyclability labelling and restrictions on the use of the term, ‘compostable.’ Provinces and territories are looking to expand recycling collection programs to support these regulations, which include developing and implementing extended producer responsibility (EPR) policies. The EPR approach makes the producer responsible for the collection and management of packaging at the end of life. The Federal Plastics Registry will require producers of certain categories of plastics to submit annual reports with information on plastic product resin types and amount of plastic waste sent to disposal.

P2 Notice

To continue bringing forward new measures to manage plastic waste, the federal government introduced a consultation document regarding a proposed pollution prevention notice (P2 notice) to reduce the environmental impact of primary food plastic packaging. The notice would require large grocery retailers in Canada to prepare, implement, and report on a pollution prevention plan to reduce plastic waste and shift to a circular economy. The goal of the P2 notice is to reduce primary plastic food packaging by eliminating unnecessary/hard-to-recycle items. All companies along the entire value chain (retailers, producers, and brand owners) would need to work together to meet the P2 notice objectives. Initial input from stakeholders on the consultation document ended on August 30, 2023. The government is analyzing the comments and continues to welcome additional feedback as the P2 notice is developed. A draft P2 notice will be issued for public comment before finalization.

The many new policies and regulations are complex with nuances that are providing real challenges to the food industry. These challenges are being addressed by designing packages for recycling or reuse, improving recycling system infrastructure, and increasing the availability of more recycled food-grade plastic resin. The P2 notice is part of federal government’s ambitious Action Plan of Zero Plastic Waste. Collaborative effort along with support from all levels of government, industry and citizens is needed to achieve a circular economy with less plastic waste.

Carol Zweep is the research lead, packaging, at Conestoga Food Research & Innovation Lab, Conestoga College.

This column was originally published in the April/May 2024 issue of Food in Canada.

Currently, packaging materials intended for use with foods in Canada may be submitted voluntarily to Health Canada for a pre-market assessment of their chemical safety, per Food and Drugs Act and Regulations. However, Health Canada is actively considering regulatory changes that would make this form of assessments mandatory. Field told event attendees that public consultations on the proposed regulation may start next year.

Field’s comments were part of an overarching discussion on plastic reduction measures, including the P2 notice, Canada Plastic Pact’s Golden Design Rules (GDR), the various extended producer responsibility programs across Canada and the recently introduced Federal Plastics Registry. The event was attended by F&B processors, retailers, packaging firms, municipal waste teams, government representatives and other sector stakeholders. An open discussion gave participants the opportunity to voice their challenges when it came to food packaging. This consultation was a follow-up to a January discussion on the same topic by FBO.

Participants acknowledged it takes years and a lot of investment to change packaging lines. Given the regulatory inconsistencies across the country and the lack of plastic alternatives to meet the industry’s food safety and shelf-life requirements, manufacturers are concerned the investments won’t yield desired results. However, they’re committed to actively work towards a circular economy, meet consumer demands for sustainably produced food, and keep plastics as much as possible out of landfills without compromising food safety.

Lack of alternatives

While the Golden Design Rules recommends the use of monomaterials, it’s not recyclable across Canada. Plus, the thickness of the plastic needs to be increased to meet the self-life requirements of products like dry pasta, which means the amount of plastic in the packaging isn’t minimized.

Another concern raised during the consultation was the fact that biodegradable plastics, which typically cost three times more than flexible packaging, don’t comply with the Golden Design Rules. Also, there is no internationally recognized definition for biodegradable materials. It varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, making it nearly impossible for large multinational F&B manufacturers to adopt such packaging.

Lack of consistency

The lack of consistency was a constant theme throughout the consultation. Attendees highlighted that packaging, which is deemed recyclable in Europe, isn’t in North America. They also shared their frustration with recycling programs in Canada that vary from municipality to municipality. Imagine creating packaging for each municipality and the associated costs!

Lack of consumer awareness

Food safety reasons notwithstanding, participants felt it was key to educate consumers about best recycling practices. For example, remove the non-recyclable films before recycling cardboard boxes. This will improve recycling rates as well as ensure we have higher-grade of recycled plastic for use. However, changing consumer behaviour isn’t possible overnight; it’ll take years of patient, ongoing education.

Lack of infrastructure

Another issue was the lack of infrastructure to back up Canada’s Zero Plastic Waste Agenda. There are challenges with sorting materials. As described by Doug Alexander, VP, sustainability and government relations, Belmont Food Group, Canada’s recycling system is a “catch-all” while in Europe materials are segregated by material and recycled through dedicated lines. It would be helpful to invest in technology that can automate recycling systems before demanding industry to make expensive changes that may not necessarily improve the state of plastic recycling in the country.

Toxins

A large part of the discussion centred around the lack of data to help determine the impact of microplastics on human health. Field said that at this point there are no consensus on how microplastics affect humans. He added that a lot of studies use spherical microplastics, a type of microplastics that humans aren’t exposed to. He suggested studies must be representative of what we, as humans, are exposed to. He admitted there’s evidence of toxicity in animal models but urged that most of them must be interpreted with caution.

Recycled plastic quality concerns

Field also shared Health Canada’s concerns with the use of recycled plastic in food packaging.

“We have a good handle on resins, the additives used and the amount of leeching, etc. But all bets are off when it comes to recycled plastic. We don’t have much info on how they behave. We don’t want them leeching chemicals into food. We’re looking at new risk management practices,” he explained.

At this point, there is zero science-based data to help determine how many types a plastic material can be safely reused in food packaging. The last thing one wants is a toxic package leeching chemicals into the food.

Despite all the concerns raised, the group was unanimous in its intention to create a circular plastic economy and avoid sending them to landfills.

As Alexander, who moderated the discussion said, “It’ll take time to divest ourselves from this addiction to plastics.” It’ll take years to build a society and culture that actively recycles and reuses products. Perhaps until then, it might be worthwhile for the industry to explore alternative measures like creating energy from waste, thereby keeping plastics out of landfills.

In the ever-evolving landscape of automotive manufacturing, Nexeo Plastics is taking the lead in driving sustainability with our portfolio of sustainable materials that includes the latest innovations from our suppliers. We’re committed to revolutionizing the road, from encouraging customers to adopt bio-based plastics to helping customers meet their net zero carbon goals. Let’s discuss the details of our sustainable solutions and their pivotal role in shaping the future of mobility.

Embracing Sustainability in Response to Environmental Concerns

The automotive industry is at a crossroads as it tries to respond to global environmental concerns and to adopt more sustainable practices. Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) are now prioritizing the reduction of their carbon footprints through Extended Producer Responsibility (“EPR”) programs and seeking to achieve end-of-life recyclability goals. Although legislation mandating EPR’s is being developed specifically for EV battery producers and packaging manufacturers, we expect this trend to spread to other automotive segments.

Our sustainable solutions aim to cover the entire spectrum of goals our customers are striving to achieve. We want to help customers minimize reliance on traditional plastics, reduce their own and their customers’ carbon emissions, and, in general, help everyone mitigate their environmental impact. Carbon mass balance, Circularity, or a combination of both have become the chief philosophies in the industry, and Nexeo Plastics has product solutions for each approach.

Key Features and Benefits

Currently, the sustainable options that are typically most appealing to automotive OEMs include a variety of commodity and engineered bio-based plastics, derived either directly from renewable resources, such as sugarcane, or through the mass balance approach using ISCC PLUS certifications for existing products. Both methods are often ideal to ensure compatibility with existing manufacturing processes for seamless integration. And the result? A reduced carbon footprint throughout the vehicle’s life cycle, achievement of end-of-life recyclability goals, and enhanced brand image and consumer appeal through sustainability initiatives.

Nexeo Plastics’ Differentiating Features

What sets Nexeo Plastics apart? We have access to both emerging and existing sustainable material options from large suppliers in the industry. With global ISCC PLUS approved facilities, we can maintain chain of custody for certification from our global suppliers to our customers.

In conclusion, Nexeo Plastics is driving change by providing sustainable solutions that not only meet the needs of the present but also pave the way for a greener and more sustainable future in the mobility industry. We are happy to answer any questions you or your customer may have. Join us on this journey towards sustainable mobility!

Taylor Burnham
Product Manager for Healthcare and Sustainability
Nexeo Plastics

Christian M. Sodeikat
End Market Manager – Mobility
Nexeo Plastics

Q: Tell us a little bit about EFS-plastics
A: EFS-plastics is an Ontario-based plastics recycler that processes over 100 million pounds of post-consumer plastics every year. Our headquarters is in Listowel, Ont., and specializes in mixed rigid plastics processing.
We also run a U.S. plant in Hazleton, Pa., which specializes in flexible plastics. Our latest expansion brought us to Lethbridge, Alta., where we will start to produce high-quality resins for packaging applications in January 2025. This will be the first plant to produce a food grade PET product as well.

Q: Where do you source your materials?
A: We work directly with municipalities and waste management companies. Once the transition to EPR will be completed in Ontario by 2026 and Alberta in 2025, we will be working directly with the producers and producer responsibility organizations to process their materials. We hope to gain long-term supply agreements from this change that would guarantee us consistent supply and enable us to engineer our resins to the spec of the producer.

Q: What gets impacted in the process when using PCR?
A: Let me start by stating, that the latest studies from renowned environmental firms show that PCR from mechanical recycling has a far lower environmental footprint than any other competing technology currently available in the market. We are talking about a GHG emission saving of up to 50 per cent compared to chemical recycled resins and 70 per cent compared to virgin plastics. For this reason, mechanical recycled resin should be preferred over other recycled resins if suited for the product application.
We understand that our PCR has limitations in certain applications and most of our customers have a low tolerance for specs and gels, thus we are investing heavily in advanced sortation, washing, and extrusion. The industry is quite evolving, and we are seeing great success with high incorporating rates with those customers that invested in PCR by updating their conversion equipment.

Q: Where do you see demand coming from?
A: Recycled content legislation and EPR remain the main drivers for demand. We have very strong sales in the regulated market. However, since the 2025 voluntary brand goals are in sight, we saw a lot more traction in the first quarter of 2024. This traction is coming from brands as well as converters.

Q: How is recycling technology changing over time?
A: As every player in this industry understands quality concerns and market needs better and better, we are seeing improvements and innovation for every component of our process. Machinery that was state-of-the-art 10 years ago will most likely not meet the current standards anymore.

Q: Are investments in the latest technology necessary to remain competitive, or does older recycling equipment remain useful?
A: Yes, but there’s a catch. Recyclers need commitments on both ends of the supply chain to make the necessary investments. Long-term consistent supply and a set of consistent buyers would greatly de-risk these multimillion-dollar projects.
In some cases, old equipment can be retrofitted or refurbished, which makes those investments less expensive. At EFS-plastics, we try to reuse or repurpose as much of our old equipment as possible.

For example, with more expectations being placed on the reliability aspect of caps and closures, producers have an opportunity to step up and deliver the high-quality resins backed by robust technical support that modern manufacturers demand. We are required to understand the end-use demands – to be stronger, more durable, lighter weight, more flexible, clearer, heat or cold resistant, etc. – as well as the specifications for all production equipment in use, and how to optimize for maximum efficiency. In today’s market, in fact, the technical expertise on the producer’s end might be just as important as producing and delivering a quality and consistent product.

Customization, quality, consistency

Hyper-customization means finding and delivering the perfect product for our customer’s very specific needs: they may look alike to the casual eye, but we know that every package, every film, every cap and closure, every personal hygiene product requires proprietary customization with zero room for variance between shipments. We know every minute of downtime, extra cleaning, and re-runs is money off the bottom line. For example, Heartland’s H3003 biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) film extrusion resin has been found to have an excellent processing window allowing for even faster production speeds.

Products that deliver low VOC, faster and better processing, along with enhanced down gauging capabilities, come with higher value. All polymers when melted emit some level of volatiles, but leading production technology and less additives can significantly reduce those volatiles. The less additives, the fewer things that can break down and create problems for the converter on their end. That’s why quality assurance is paramount to making technical recommendations with confidence. For example, Heartland Polymers has conducted trials at the Non-Wovens Institute – the world’s first accredited academic program for the interdisciplinary field of engineered fabrics – to test and verify product quality. Recent trials found the product runs exceptionally well, which translates to less equipment maintenance as well as the potential for improved processability.

Advancing sustainability through production technology

Smart technologies also enable technical support and QC teams to zero in on exact moments in time during the production process and to track shipments with real-time GPS, offering greatly enhanced capabilities and recording. These platforms allow teams on both ends to co-ordinate and respond faster than ever before to issues. The area of AI and digitization is a separate topic with massive implications, but suffice to say that data is power and from consumers all the way back to the producer, transparency creates common ground. Put simply, the more consumers understand how we make things, the better it is for everyone.

When it comes to sustainability, the plastics industry is no longer trying to keep up with consumer demands and expectations, we are leading new ground through research and the adoption of emerging technologies. Today, there can be no trade-off between performance and sustainability: manufacturers and their customers expect both. It is by integrating technical teams across producer and manufacturer that we gain the boots-on-the-ground reality of what is required, what is possible, and what optimizations are required on both ends. Through communication and a shared vision of what success looks like, we are delivering on products with increased recyclability, lighter weight, more durable, and extremely flexible.

David Marnalse is a Senior Account Manager at Heartland Polymers. With over 25 years in the industry, he is committed to delivering a new and more efficient customer experience to help industry meet the challenges of modern production.

Julio Muzquiz is the Technical Services Supervisor at Heartland Polymers. He brings unparalleled technical expertise to Heartland backed by more than 25 years of providing polyolefins technical support for High Density Polyethylene (HDPE), Linear Low Density Polyethylene (LLDPE), and Polypropylene (PP) resins.

The naming of the sneakers is a callback to the monetary value ($1,352) the average Canadian household wastes in food each year.

“Hellmann’s has a longstanding history of taking the necessary steps to address, raise awareness, and reduce food waste,” said Harsh Pant, Sr. brand manager for Hellmann’s Canada. “With 1352: Refreshed Sneakers we’ve created a visual representation of Canadians’ food waste, aimed at sparking conversation and challenging consumers to take small steps to reducing that $1,352 amount of food that’s wasted each year.”

Canadians can get a chance to win a pair of 1352: Refreshed Sneakers at www.hellmanns.ca. For every entry, Hellmann’s Canada will donate the equivalent of 10 meals to long-standing charity partner, Second Harvest, supporting their mission to rescue food and reduce waste. Hellmann’s Canada has committed to providing a $25,000 donation, which will provide enough food for 75,000 meals.

“This global branded plastic pollution data speaks for itself and demonstrates unequivocally that the world’s top global producers are the biggest plastics polluters,” said the study’s co-author Dr. Tony Walker of Dal’s School for Resource and Environmental Studies.

For more than five years, citizen scientists in dozens of countries combed beaches, waterways, parks, busy city streets and other public areas to quantify the amount of plastic waste in the environment and track its source.

They recorded the brand or trademark on each plastic item and the number of items with those brands wherever possible, also noting the location, date, type of plastic, type of item, number of plastic layers and time of each audit event, which ran from 2018 to 2022.

Researchers synthesized those results and found a clear link between plastic production and plastic pollution, such that a one-per-cent increase in plastic production was associated with a one-per-cent increase in plastic pollution in the environment.

The team also determined that companies producing single-use consumer goods disproportionately contributed to the problem more than household and retail companies, and that most collected items had no discernible brand.

“We were surprised to find that the direct relationship between plastic production and plastic pollution was consistent around the world, irrespective of whether the litter audits were conducted in the global north or global south,” added Dr. Walker, noting that plastic production doubled to about 400 metric tons from 2000 to 2019. “This confirms that companies responsible for omnipresent plastic pollution is consistent no matter where you live.”

The study also discovered that about 52 per cent of the more than two million inventoried plastic items had no identifiable brand, highlighting the need for better transparency about production and labeling of plastic products to enhance traceability and accountability. The researchers suggest creating an international, open-access database into which companies are obliged to quantitatively track and report their products, packaging and brands.

“When I first saw the relationship between production and pollution, I was shocked,” said co-author Win Cowger of the Moore Institute for Plastic Pollution Research. “Despite all the things big brands say they are doing, we see no positive impact from their efforts. But on the other hand, it gives me hope that reducing plastic production by fast-moving consumer goods companies will have a strong positive impact on the environment.”

The five-year analysis used data from 1,576 audit events in 84 countries. More than 100,000 volunteers submitted data through Break Free from Plastic or the 5 Gyres’ TrashBlitz app.

“Findings from this study suggest we need a paradigm shift in how we regulate plastic producers, especially the top branded producers that are responsible for half of branded plastic pollution,” said Dr. Walker.

The registry requires plastic resin manufacturers, producers of plastic products, and service providers to report each year on the quantity and types of plastic they put on the Canadian market and how that plastic moves through the economy. This tool will provide Canadians with reliable data that will identify opportunities for further action to reduce plastic waste and pollution, as well as help monitor progress over time. Reporting will be phased in over time and by sector. The categories covered by the registry include packaging, single-use and disposable products, construction, transportation, electronics and electrical equipment, tires, textiles and apparel, fishing and aquaculture equipment, and agriculture and horticulture equipment.

Producers of plastic products and service providers will also be required to report on the quantity of plastic collected and diverted, reused, repaired, remanufactured, refurbished, recycled, processed into chemicals, composted, incinerated, and landfilled. They will also be required to report on the amount of plastic waste generated on their industrial, commercial, and institutional premises.

Reporting to the Federal Plastics Registry will start in September 2025, requiring reporting on plastic placed on the market in three categories for the 2024 calendar year.

In 2026, reporting requirements for resin manufacturers and importers will be added, as well as reporting on plastic placed on the market for the remaining categories. In 2026, reporting on plastic waste generated at industrial, commercial, and institutional facilities, plastic collected at end-of-life, as well as plastic sent for diversion and disposal for some categories, will also be introduced.

In 2027, additional reporting requirements on plastics collected and sent for diversion and disposal for more categories will be added.

Through the Canada-wide Action Plan on Zero Plastic Waste, the federal, provincial, and territorial governments agreed to develop and maintain Canada-wide data on how plastic moves through the economy. The Federal Plastics Registry supports this commitment and publicly provides critical data to inform and support Canada’s shared plan to address plastic waste and pollution.

“Canadians expect the Government of Canada to take action to reduce plastic waste and pollution, and we are delivering on our commitment. The Federal Plastics Registry is a practical tool that will help track plastics across the economy, inform future actions, and measure progress to reduce plastic waste and pollution,” said Steven Guilbeault, Environment and Climate Change Minister.

To drive collective action and continued progress toward the company’s commitment to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across its value chain by 30 per cent by 2030 and achieve net zero emissions by 2050, General Mills also released its first Climate Transition Action Plan.

The plan details the company’s integrated approach and evolved decarbonization strategies across four key climate levers — agriculture and ingredients, energy and manufacturing, transportation, and packaging.

General Mills is committing to no deforestation in the supply chains of the palm, cocoa, and fibre it sources by 2025.

The company surpassed its 2030 Scope 1 and Scope 2 SBTi goals in 2022 and is driving further reductions across its owned operations. Nearly half of the company’s GHG emissions occur upstream of its direct operations, in agriculture, ingredients and packaging. Through 2023, General Mills reduced total value chain emissions by seven per cent and further reduced Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 12 per cent compared to last year, and 51 per cent compared to its 2020 baseline.

“The health of our planet and our ability to make food the world loves are inherently intertwined,” said Mary Jane Melendez, chief sustainability and global impact officer, General Mills. “Our Climate Transition Action Plan and continued progress demonstrate how we are working from the ground up, with partners across our value chain and industry, to help solve today’s food and agriculture challenges and build a resilient future.”

For the first time ever, the company reached gender parity at the director level and increased female representation at the officer level by four per cent since last fiscal year.

According to the Government of Canada’s website, Canadians throw away over 3 million tonnes of plastic waste every year, while only nine per cent is recycled. How can manufacturers balance food safety concerns with the government mandate for phasing out plastic food packaging?

In a statement, Food and Beverage Canada (FBC) said, “While we align with the government’s objectives in plastic waste reduction, we have reservations about the potential unintended consequences stemming from the current approach.”

“We all agree that we should be cutting back on the use of plastics,” says Kristina Farrell, CEO, FBC. “There are plastic alternatives for some packaged goods and not others. There are no alternatives for plastic film to safely package meats. The current plastic packaging, which includes transparent multilayer packaging, enables consumers to inspect products for things such as quality and cut. The material itself has low gas permeability, which promotes extended shelf life. Right now there is no viable alternative to this packaging material. Additionally, the blood and tissue often remaining on the packaging after its disposal would still make it unrecyclable, regardless of whether the material itself was more environmentally friendly.”

“There are multiple ways to address plastic packaging without eradicating it completely. We need to take a systemized approach,” says Martin Gooch, CEO of Value Chain Management International. “We’ve taken decades to be right where we are, and it’s been allowed to evolve. Things have changed since the 1950s and 60s when produce was sold loose. It was available only seasonally. You only could buy strawberries in summer. Salads didn’t come in a convenience bag. Families shopped more than once a week, so shelf life was less of an issue. Today, there are no standardized specifications when it comes to plastic packaging. It’s the system that needs to be changed.”

At this point, there are no alternatives for plastic film to safely package meat. Photo © Алексей Филатов / Adobe Stock

Possible solutions

Plastic has been considered a low-value product, and to create perceived value, more complexity has been added to plastic packaging than necessary. This has had repercussions. Gooch gives an example by saying, “PET [polyethylene terephthalate] is a recyclable plastic. Let’s say you produce a PET water bottle. Once a PVC [polyvinylidene chloride] cap is placed on top, it limits its recyclability.”

One solution Gooch points to is the standardization of plastic polymers. “This could mean using fewer polymers or making multi-layer laminates out of the same polymers. Up to this point,  there has been no incentive for this to be done. I am fully in support of reducing plastics; it just has to be achieved in a well-thought-out way.”

The Canada Plastics Pact (CPP) is tackling plastic pollution with plastic-related solutions. “There isn’t one solution but a portfolio of solutions. Packaging for food is a challenge. It requires technical solutions that maintain product integrity, shelf life, and product food safety. Brands use packaging to communicate their consumer proposition,” says Cher Mereweather, managing director, CPP. “One really important element is what happens to the plastic after we are done with it. Today, we are focused on the big challenges that companies cannot achieve on their own.”

The Golden Design Rules were created to facilitate less plastic packaging, while using more easier-to-recycle plastic for packaging. Photo © weyo / Adobe Stock

Mereweather points to the Golden Design Rules. These rules for plastic packaging were developed by Consumer Goods Forum’s Coalition for Action on Plastic Waste, for which Galen Weston is the co-chair, along with Alexis Perakis-Valat, president, Consumer Products Division, L’Oreal.

The nine Golden Design Rules were established to facilitate less plastic packaging, while also using more plastic packaging that is easier to recycle by 2025. This includes increasing the value of PET recycling; PET thermoformed trays and other PET thermoformed, as well as flexible consumer packaging, such as the packaging for frozen produce, and rigid HDPE (high-density polyethylene) and PP (polypropylene) used for products such as laundry soap and dairy tubs.

Another rule involves the removal of problematic elements such as PVC or PVDC (polyvinylidene dichloride), which can disrupt recycling in some types of packaging. The plastic film used in vegetables and meat trays are usually manufactured from PVC or PVDC. Other elements under this umbrella include undetectable carbon black, EPS (expanded polystyrene), PS (polystyrene), PETG (polyethylene terephthalate glycol), and oxo-degradable plastics.

Reducing plastic waste involves rules governing the elimination of excess packaging headspace, with a stipulation of a 30 per cent maximum guideline, the reduction of overwraps, and reduced virgin plastic use in B2B plastic packaging. Finally, to guide consumers, there is a packaging rule to include recycling or reuse instructions on all consumer plastic packaging.

Omnia Packaging, the Canadian-based industrial plant owned by Italy’s Gruppo Sunino, operates two production divisions. One is for plastic, producing only 100 per cent recyclable packaging, and the other is for paper.

“We are different because our plastic food packaging is made with PP,” explains Monica Viazzo, who represents Omnia Packaging, in business development and marketing. “This is the purest polymer and the most recyclable one. We use 27 per cent less plastic in each tub we produce. This still guarantees the same shelf life for food. Additionally, we only use mould labelling using a monolayer of PP. This creates a clean, fully recyclable container.”

The research and development team at Omnia Packaging continues to develop moulds to support various packaging solutions that food and beverage manufacturers require, such as for ready-made meals, soups, sauces, dips, and cheese.

Solutions abound for keeping foods safe while reducing and recycling plastic. It will be interesting to see how food and beverage manufacturers as well as governments tackle the plastic problem.

“At Georgian Bay, our commitment to protecting the environment is at the core of everything we do. We’re thrilled to unveil the launch of Canada’s first-ever paper spirit bottle hitting shelves this spring,” shares Denzil Wadds, Georgian Bay Spirit co-founder. “The new Georgian Bay Eco-Friendly Gin, meticulously crafted with a unique blend of botanicals, are packaged in lightweight, 100 per cent recycled paperboard bottles. These innovative bottles not only showcase our dedication to sustainability, but also boast a carbon footprint six times lower than traditional glass bottles.”

The Eco-Friendly Gin is a special botanical forward blend using 99.7 per cent of gin inputs locally sourced from Ontario.

“We’re taking our commitment a step further. For every bottle sold, we pledge to plant a tree, contributing to the reforestation efforts and making a positive impact on our planet,” shares Amy Smith, Georgian Bay Spirit’s marketing head. “We are proud to be at the forefront of environmental change-makers in beverage alcohol and want Canada to join us on this journey towards a greener future, one sip at a time.”

“This transition to 100 per cent rPET represents a significant commitment to soften Califia’s environmental footprint,” said Dave Ritterbush, CEO at Califia Farms. “While Califia is an inherently sustainable business thanks to the plant-based products we produce, we recognize the importance of ongoing, forward progress in our sustainability journey. By moving to 100 per cent rPET for our iconic curvy bottle, we’re taking a major step in reducing our reliance on virgin plastic and advancing the principles of a circular economy.”

Califia Farms clarifies that the plastic cap and sleeve don’t use 100 per cent rPET materials.

The guide provides tools, knowledge, and inspiration needed to make sustainability a core part of business strategy and operations.

“As we move forward, sustainability is not just about doing good. It’s about doing well in business. This guide is a stepping stone towards a more sustainable and prosperous future for the food and beverage industry,” said BC Food & Beverage’s COO Alisa Hutton in a company statement.

BC Food & Beverage partnered with Vancity to create this resource guide.

The federal government’s plastic reduction agenda began with a ban on single-use plastics. Companies are required to reduce plastics, especially hard-to-recycle ones, and eliminate can and bottle ring carriers, checkout bags, cutlery, foodservice ware, stir sticks and straws. The Single Use Plastic Prohibition Regulation allowed a change to Canadian Environmental Protection Act’s (CEPA’s) Toxic Substances List and included Manufactured Plastics in it. However, the legislation was overturned by the Federal Court in November 2023.

The regulation and the repeal for the plastics ban hinged on the word, ‘toxicity’. The meaning of toxicity for food safety practitioners is different from how it is defined under CEPA. Food safety practitioners see a chemical hazard as something potentially injurious to human consumers. Under CEPA, the term, ‘toxicity,’ extends to chemicals and materials with the potential for enduring environmental harm.

Under section 64 in CEPA, the definition is, “a substance is toxic if it is entering or may enter the environment in a quantity or concentration or under conditions that (a) have or may have an immediate or long-term harmful effect on the environment or its biological diversity; (b) constitute or may constitute a danger to the environment on which life depends; or (c) constitute or may constitute a danger in Canada to human life or health.”

In food safety, using CODEX Alimentarius’s glossary, the words, ‘toxin’ or ‘toxic,’ only emerge with relation to pesticides and veterinary chemicals. Hazards are “a biological, chemical or physical agent in, or condition of, food with the potential to cause an adverse health effect.” Toxins can be acute, causing short-term immediate impacts, or they can be long term and chronic where exposure is small.

Plastics approved for food contact use are not inherently toxic to human health and have had been evaluated by Health Canada for safe use. The issue is not plastic in its standard form. Microplastics are emerging as a major area of concern for human health, as well as a concern in environmental contamination. Researchers are investigating the potential toxicity and long-term effects of microplastics. The science in this field is relatively new. Environmental microplastics were only first described in the early 2000s. Pubmed’s academic literature database indicates very minor uses of the term, ‘microplastics,’ in research literature before 2011. However, the term was referenced in almost 4000 articles in 2023. The science on microplastics has not yet created any direct causal links to toxicity, but many strong theories are being investigated.

This reframing of risk assessment, where human health is aligned with environmental health and sustainability, will have major implications for food safety management systems. Food safety practitioners who have followed its history can appreciate this potential movement. Threat assessment or TACCP came into force within the United States when terrorist threats to the food system and deliberate adulteration became a hazard. BRCGS has a standard for ethical trade and responsible sourcing. GFSI has developed a Sustainable Supply Chain Initiative to benchmark social compliance. It has set requirements such as no forced and prison labour, no child labour, freedom of association and rights to collective bargaining for workers, no discrimination and abuse, application of health and safety systems, application of building and fire safety codes, fair wages and employment practices, fair working hours, and ability to grieve working conditions. GFSI indicates they will have an environmental standard coming out in the near future. Encouraging or mandating food companies to consider environmental consequences as part of their quality management and supplier strategy is very likely in the future.

The food industry has an authentic need for plastics, and other lightweight barrier materials. Food safety and shelf-life extension are intrinsically tied to plastics use. The successful environmental transition to this is better plastics materials and better use and repurposing of existing plastics. Fortunately, we are seeing investments in this area.

Dr. Amy Proulx is professor and academic program co-ordinator for the Culinary Innovation and Food Technology programs at Niagara College, Ont. She can be reached at aproulx@niagaracollege.ca.

This column was originally published in the February/March 2024 issue of Food in Canada.

The Mars Unreasonable Food partnership will focus on four pillars: Shaping the Future of Food, Improving Farmer Livelihood, Transforming Food Supply Chains, and Reimagining Sustainable Packaging. These four focus areas are designed to identify, and then accelerate, the areas Mars believes can make a meaningful and differentiated impact given the company’s global business footprint and operations.

Each year, Unreasonable will identify, privately invite, and unite growth-stage entrepreneurs best positioned to profitably solve sustainability challenges. Selection of these ventures will be a mutual decision between Unreasonable Group’s team and the Mars Snacking team. Over the course of the three-year partnership, Unreasonable Food aims to build a portfolio of approximately 40 solutions uniquely situated to solve Mars Snacking’s key sustainability challenges.

The first cohort, to be announced later this spring, will join Mars Snacking’s first Unreasonable Food program for a week-long gathering with mentors from the Mars Snacking global leadership team as well as Unreasonable.

Amanda Davies, global vice-president of R&D, sustainability, and commercial at Mars Snacking, said, “Mars has the experience, the energy, and the footprint to shape the food future. Doing nothing is not an option.”

Daniel Epstein, CEO at Unreasonable Group, said, “More than 25 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions caused by human activity can be attributed to the way we produce, process, and package food. As one of the world’s largest food companies with some of the world’s most admired brands, Mars Snacking, in partnership with Unreasonable and the entrepreneurs we support together, is uniquely positioned to put that statistic where it belongs— in a museum. We cannot imagine a more compelling partner to set a new standard for sustainability in our food systems than Mars.”

The Mars Net Zero Roadmap aims to cut carbon by 15 million metric tons by 2030 across the company’s value chain.

Café William is achieving a milestone with this new factory. Of the initial $47 million investment, $19 million is allocated toward implementing energy-efficient technologies.

Rémi Tremblay, CEO of Café William, said, “This accomplishment underscores our dedication to innovation and industry excellence. Operating Canada’s first electric industrial roaster fills us with immense pride. Earlier this year, our successful demonstration of coffee transportation via cargo sailboat showcased our commitment to sustainability. Today, we mark yet another sustainable initiative in our supply chain aimed at reducing the ecological impact of our coffee.”

Partners who made this project possible include Investissement Québec, Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED), National Bank of Canada, Fondaction, Fonds de solidarité FTQ, Neuhaus Neotec, Gératek and the City of Sherbrooke. The Quebec government also granted a $9 million loan under the ESSOR program to support the plant’s implementation. This program is managed by Investissement Québec. On behalf of the Government of Canada, a repayable contribution of $2.5 million has also been granted by CED.

The electric industrial roaster, which was has been operational since January 2024, has an annual roasting capacity of up to 20 million lb of coffee. It was manufactured by Neuhaus Neotec.

As a result of the electric industrial roaster, Café William anticipates an annual reduction of approximately 800 tonnes of equivalent CO₂ emissions.

This predicament was the central theme of a recent consultation held by Food and Beverage Ontario (FBO). The event brought together stakeholders from across the supply chain (retail, packaging suppliers, government, etc.).

Chris Conway, CEO of FBO, kick started the discussion by highlighting the poor state of recycling infrastructure in the country. “A lot of infrastructure and technology for recycling packaging are required,” he said.

Kristina Farrell, CEO, Food and Beverage Canada, shared the task ahead for the food industry. As per the P2 notice, primary produce packaging must be recyclable, compostable, and reusable by 2028. She also highlighted studies that found consumers prefer eco-friendly packaging and would prefer reduced plastic in food packaging.

Doug Alexander, vice-president of sustainability and government relations at Belmont Food Group, added, “We all have a responsibility, and we want to do it good by the consumer. So, how do we reduce plastic in a sustainable manner without causing food-borne illnesses and hardship for consumers.” He also suggested that the heavy reliance on recycling plastics should be evaluated as the process could create microplastics.

Many food manufacturers then shared the challenges they have with the government mandate. This was followed by in-depth, frank conversations in groups. There were many takeaways, and it was heartening to see a representative from ECCC attend the meeting virtually and listen to the concerns.

Challenges on the road to sustainability

For food safety and shelf-life reasons, multi-layer films, shrink bags and flexible films are used to package different types of food products. These aren’t recyclable. Currently, there are no alternatives to these solutions. Where available, compostable packaging is three times the cost of traditional plastic packaging. Further, not all retailers accept compostable packaging. It’s also important to note that there are no industry/country -wide standards about what types of packaging are compostable, biodegradable, or recyclable. There’s also a concern that the actual time a packaging takes to compost may not match the local rules around it. This would result in creating compost with plastic residues. Contaminated compost cannot be sold in the premium category.

Another issue that was raised at the session was the lack of recycling-related standardization across provinces and municipalities. Packages may be considered recyclable in a specific province or municipality but not elsewhere. Additionally, there’s a scarcity of food-grade recycled plastic due to the non-availability of systems to create these types of materials. As everything in supply chain is integrated, the lack of recycling systems could partly be attributed to the absence of local buyers for recycled plastic.

MNC food companies have the added challenge of packaging that’s designed at a global level to meet regulations at most countries.

Most of the manufacturers present found the Canada Plastic Pact’s Golden Design Rules confusing. These rules were established to reduce the amount of virgin plastic in supply chain, but the definitions provided weren’t clear to the participants.

Participants stressed the need for governments to balance policy goals and have a clear understanding of the nuances, cost and challenges when legislating complex supply chains like the food industry.

Possible solutions

Until effective alternatives for plastic packaging are available, it might be prudent to use biodegradable plastics to limit the amount of plastics entering landfills.

Canada needs to build a sizeable inventory of food-grade recycled plastic.

An alternative to diverting plastic from landfills would be incinerating and converting them into energy. However, incinerating waste isn’t a catch-all solution. The industry must attempt to recycle as much as possible and convert the rest into energy.

We are continuing this discussion during our annual webinar series on Trends and Innovations in Food. On Thursday, May 2, 1-2 pm ET, we’ll be discussing this very issue on our webinar titled “The Next Wave of Food Packaging: Are You Ready?” I hope you can join this conversation. To register, click here.

McCain has a goal of implementing regenerative agriculture practices across 100 per cent of the global acreage that grows potatoes for McCain products by the end of the decade. Currently, 51 per cent of McCain’s global potato acreage have onboarded within McCain’s Regenerative Agriculture Framework, and 28 per cent are moving up the framework towards more comprehensive adoption of regenerative practices.

“As one of the most vulnerable sectors impacted by climate change, the food system is one of the most important levers to help drive a sustainable and resilient future,” says Max Koeune, president and CEO of McCain Foods. “That is why sustainability is at the heart of our purpose as a business. We are pleased to share an update on how we are making strides towards our goals in key areas that will ensure we have resource efficient operations, are farming in a smart and sustainable way and are contributing to building thriving communities in the areas that we operate, all while we continue to produce good food.”

To accelerate the adoption of regenerative agriculture practices, McCain provides farmers with technical and educational assistance and develops financing solutions to offset costs associated with making changes in farming practices and adopting new technologies.

In the 2023 Global Sustainability Report, McCain highlights the following results across four key pillars.

Smart and sustainable farming

In addition to progressing on commitments towards regenerative agriculture, McCain has completed its first season at Farm of the Future Africa and third season at Farm of the Future Canada, improved water-use efficiency in water-stressed regions by 9.4 per cent, delivered more than 23,500 hours of training to farmers and has achieved its goal to ensure 21.9 per cent of the potatoes grown for McCain are water stress-tolerant varieties.

Resource-efficient operations

More than 21 per cent of the electrical energy used by McCain was from renewable sources and absolute carbon emissions (Scope 1 and 2) reduced by 9.8 per cent from 2017. McCain has also achieved a 16.3 per cent improvement in water-use efficiency in priority plants. Additionally, 98.5 per cent of McCain’s paper packaging and 87.8 per cent of its plastic packaging are designed for recycling.

Good food

McCain launched new global policies for clean ingredients and nutrition, while maintaining 100 per cent Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) certification at all McCain-owned facilities — and 96 per cent GFSI certification of all Tier 1 ingredient supplier facilities. Sodium was reduced by 6.6 per cent in McCain branded appetizer products, and the company has continued to remove artificial ingredients from key products.

Thriving communities

In 2023, McCain employees provided more than 17,000 volunteer hours through the McCain Chips In initiative, reached 2,716 new beneficiaries with development programs and partnerships and donated the equivalent of 11.9 million meals.

“While we are proud of how far we have progressed towards our goals, we recognize there is more to be done,” says Koeune. “But we know this is not something we can do alone. Partnership and knowledge are crucial to move forward. We will continue to look to stakeholders – from our farmers and government to financial institutions, NGOs, suppliers, customers and other players in the food system – to collaborate on this journey towards planet-friendly food.

Read McCain’s 2023 Global Sustainability Summary Report and all associated downloadable assets here.

Jared Simon, president of Manitoba Harvest, said, “Celebrating 10 years as a Certified B Corporation with our highest score to date is a testament to our entire organization’s unwavering commitment to social responsibility and sustainable practices. It reflects the collective efforts of our team and our enduring dedication to making a positive impact in every aspect of our business.”

In order to achieve and maintain B Corp Certification, companies must:

Demonstrate high social and environmental performance by achieving a B Impact Assessment score of 80 or above and exhibit transparency by publicly making information about their performance available on B Lab U.S. & Canada’s website.

Sarah Ford, associate director of recertification for B Lab U.S. & Canada, said, “We congratulate Manitoba Harvest on achieving a remarkable recertification score and for being B Corp Certified for a decade. Companies like Manitoba Harvest show how businesses can have a positive impact by prioritizing social and environmental responsibility.”

The Barometer is based on a survey of more than 1,500 Canadians conducted by Leger in December 2023.

“Sodexo Canada is committed to reducing our environmental impact through offering more sustainable food choices, and sourcing, preparing and serving them in more enjoyable and sustainable ways,” says Sodexo Canada CEO Johanne Bélanger. “We encourage Canadians to join us for the health benefits and cost savings, as well as the ultimate benefit of limiting climate change.”

Three key takeaways of the Sodexo Food Sustainability Barometer are:

1. Canadians are well aware of the urgent need to change eating habits and have aspirations to do so

Nearly 9 out of 10 Canadians (87 per cent) believe adopting more sustainable behaviours is an urgent matter, compared to 79 per cent globally. This is the same across all income categories, and recognition of urgency is highest in those aged 18-24 (98 per cent).

The majority of Canadians say they have already adopted some sustainable food habits: 75 per cent say they reduce their household food waste, 68 per cent eat seasonal produce, and 56 per cent buy local produce whenever possible. These are comparable to global trends (71 per cent; 63 per cent; 55 per cent).

Many Canadians are ready to or have already adopted several other sustainable practices with 86 per cent reducing their consumption of processed foods, 82 per cent avoiding plastic packaging by choosing bulk foods or using reusable bags, and 79 per cent wishing to consume sustainably produced products whenever possible.

2. There’s a gap between intentions and actions

While strong, the feeling of urgency and the desire to change come up against financial considerations and entrenched eating habits, both in Canada and globally.

Changes that Canadians are prepared to make are more about reduction or adjustments than in-depth transformations.

When shopping for groceries, price is the most important factor for Canadians: 91 per cent selected price as a top five most important factor, followed by taste (72 per cent) and nutritional value (67 per cent). The least important factor among Canadians was the product’s environmental impact (21 per cent).

Three quarters (74 per cent) of Canadians say they don’t have the desire, intention or don’t know if they would give up meat. Two-thirds (67 per cent) don’t want to give up fish and over half (54 per cent) say the same about dairy. This is substantially higher than the global average (meat: 42 per cent; fish: 45 per cent).

However, progress is seen in the willingness of Canadians to reduce their consumption of animal proteins in favour of plant proteins (46 per cent) and reduce their consumption of dairy products (46 per cent). Globally, in the event of a reduction in meat consumption, readjustments would occur but without major diet upheavals.

3. Individual benefits of sustainable food choices are more motivating than the collective benefits for society, but not exclusively

The primary motivation for eating more sustainably in Canada, and in all countries, is the expected health benefits (52 per cent Canada / 46 per cent global), followed by the expected financial savings (49 per cent Canada / 35 per cent global, except Brazil).

Canadians want agency in choosing sustainability. They are more likely to be persuaded by the desire to contribute to Canada’s food autonomy (29 per cent), and to role model for future generations (22 per cent), than they are by changes to law or imposed regulations (13 per cent).

“Sodexo Canada is continuously working to improve how and what we serve Canadians, conscious of our role as leaders and our environmental impact,” says Sodexo Canada CSR senior sustainability manager Davide Del Brocco. “The Sustainable Food Barometer helps us better understand how consumers think about making sustainable choices and how we can continue to support progressive change, making tasty, healthy meals that reduce our impact on the planet across the entire food ecosystem.”

The global trends are based on Sodexo’s International Sustainable Food Barometer survey conducted by Harris Interactive, which polled over 5,000 people in Brazil, France, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Key environmental improvements include a 15 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to produce 1 kg of beef (boneless and consumed) since 2014. This improvement is largely attributed to increased efficiencies of cattle growth, leading to a smaller overall carbon footprint as fewer resources (e.g. land, water and feed) are required to produce the same volume of beef.

“It’s exciting to see the 15 per cent reduction in GHG emissions intensity, which puts us on track to achieve the 33 per cent reduction 2030 goal that the industry has set,” says Ryan Beierbach, chair of CRSB and Saskatchewan beef producer.

The report also shows that land used for beef cattle production is estimated to store 1.9 billion tonnes of soil organic carbon, storing nearly 40 per cent of the total soil carbon across Canada’s agricultural landscape. This is equivalent to annual CO₂ emissions from over two billion cars (~58 cars for every Canadian).

The report found that animal care continues to be a top priority for the Canadian beef industry. Surveillance data shows no risk of resistance from Category I antimicrobials (very high importance to human medicine) indicating that tools to treat sickness in beef cattle is not a risk to human health.

Demand for Canadian beef remains strong with Canadian consumers (up five per cent) and around the world (16 per cent increase).

The Canadian cattle industry contributes $51.5 billion in the production of goods and services, $21.8 billion to the Canadian GDP and $11.7 billion in labour income.

“I am proud of the Canadian beef industry’s commitment to continuous improvement, and the progress already made on our sustainability journey. This assessment demonstrates the important role Canadian beef producers and our members play in advancing sustainability, and what we can accomplish when we work together towards common goals,” Beierbach adds.

A peer-reviewed scientific paper highlighting the Environmental Life Cycle Assessment results has been published in the Canadian Journal of Animal Science.

The report was completed as part of over $2.8 million in funding for CRSB under the Government of Canada’s AgriAssurance Program – National Industry Association Component, an initiative under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership.

Visit crsb.ca/benchmarks for more information on the CRSB’s National Beef Sustainability Assessment & Strategy.

The decision to opt for environmentally friendly shipping is part of the company’s drive to reduce its carbon footprint and promote sustainable practices throughout its supply chain. “It’s a commitment to sustainable transport, but also to setting a precedent for other players in the sector,” emphasizes Serge Picard, owner of Café William.

For the Sherbrooke (Quebec) roaster, this new era in maritime coffee transport represents a historic moment in the industry.

“It was vital for us to find an alternative method of transporting coffee, which largely depends on fossil-fuel cargo ships,” adds Picard. “With a first voyage as a proof of concept for the cargo sailboat, this is just the beginning of plans to supply zero-emission coffee,” he concludes.

According to Café William’s projections, the company could see a reduction of around 1 tonne of shipping-related CO₂ per container, thanks to the cargo sailboat. The company hopes to increase its cargo sailboat shipping capacity to 100 per cent of the volume imported for Café William in the long term.

The beans used by Café William come from the ANEI coffee cooperative on the mountain slopes of the Sierra Nevada in northern Colombia. Coffee beans from the ANEI cooperative have been certified organic and fair trade for over 10 years.

Effective resumes contain information about a candidate’s education, skills, and requirements to help prospective employers identify interviewees; similarly, a certain level of information is required to help consumers understand the benefit of sustainable products. In some of my recent collaborative work, I explored strategies to increase consumer acceptance of aquaponics, a sustainable food production system where fish and vegetables are grown in the same water-circulating system to reduce inputs while maximizing outputs.¹ When consumers were given a brief description of aquaponics, they preferred wild-caught fish. However, when a detailed description of the fishing methods was provided, their purchase intention for aquaponic fish exceeded that of wild-caught fish. Interestingly, the increase in purchase intention was driven by the impact of the message on expected tastiness and healthiness. Sustainability messages often create a ‘halo’ effect, a phenomenon when positive feelings created by one attribute elevate the perception of unrelated attributes. Strategic education about sustainability benefits can positively improve a product’s appeal in areas beyond the environmental benefits alone.

After preparing a basic resume, savvy jobseekers will seek to understand the goals and values of the prospective company. Likewise, it is critical to understand the values and beliefs of the target consumer. We recently demonstrated that the impact of a sustainability message depends on the characteristics of the person receiving it. ² For example, text messages promoting plant-based eating had a bigger impact on intention to reduce meat and increase plant protein consumption when the person receiving it valued health, thought that plant-based eating was morally the right thing to do, and when they felt like others would approve of their plant-based eating. Recently, we explored how an increasingly prominent personal identity—political ideology—could influence sustainable food choices.³ We found that U.S. liberals were more open to plant-based meat alternatives than conservatives. Beyond simply intending to purchase plant-based meat alternatives more often, U.S. liberals expected the products to even taste better. Since taste experiences are connected with value systems, strategic messages resonating with the target consumer may improve sensory experiences. Understanding the consumer is a key to choosing the right promotional sustainability message.

After researching a potential employer, many job candidates will tailor their resume to highlight how their experiences can best meet the position requirements. Likewise, foods and beverages will be more successful if the product’s value aligns with the sustainability claim. Consumers ‘hire’ products for different purposes—sometimes the food must meet a functional need such as ‘fuller longer’ or ‘healthy snack’ while other times it may have a more hedonic function such as ‘indulgent dessert’. Therefore, the effectiveness of product claims will differ by product category. For example, organic is a popular claim that appeals to many consumers. However, adding an organic certification does not always increase product appeal. Although an organic seal generally does increase improve acceptance of products marketed as a healthy choice, it can actually lower the evaluation of products that promise an indulgent experience or an ingredient-specific functional benefit.⁴ We recently found that effect of framing a substantively identical claim with either a self or environment-focused claim depended on the product type.⁵ Framing the environmental claim as a personal benefit worked better when the product’s purpose was hedonic (brownies). Likewise, when the product had a more functional use (granola), framing the claim as “better for the environment” worked better. We hypothesize that the “better for you” claim worked better for an indulgent product because people ‘hire’ brownies for a more egotistic reason and thus a self-focused claim complemented the goal of consuming the product. Claims supporting (rather than distracting from) the product’s value proposition will be more successful.

Credibility and trust are also critical to a successful message. Many consumers are skeptical and unsure about what sustainability claims mean. Therefore, building trust in the brand and company are key prerequisites to effective messages. It is important to also ‘walk the walk’ and not just ‘talk the talk’. Companies should examine their culture and how other aspects of the brand align with sustainability.

Each of these examples illustrate how crafting the right message, for the right consumer, for the right product can strengthen the evidence that the product meets the ‘minimum qualifications’ of taste and quality that consumers seek when ‘hiring’ a food or beverage. By remembering that consumers primarily buy food to eat it (not necessarily to save the planet), environmental benefits can be framed so that they also support the product experience. Aligning sustainability with consumer’s product ‘job descriptions’ can support a food system that is both environmentally and economically sustainable.

References

¹ Kralik, B., Weisstein, F., Meyer, J., Neves, K., Anderson, D., & Kershaw, J. (2022). From water to table: A multidisciplinary approach comparing fish from aquaponics with traditional production methods. Aquaculture, 552, 737953. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2022.737953.

² Lim, T. J., Okine, R. N., & Kershaw, J. C. (2021). Health- or Environment-Focused Text Messages as a Potential Strategy to Increase Plant-Based Eating among Young Adults: An Exploratory Study. Foods, 10(12). https://doi.org/10.3390/foods10123147.

³ Research currently under review.

⁴ Nadricka, K., Millet, K., & Verlegh, P. W. J. (2020). When organic products are tasty: Taste inferences from an Organic = Healthy Association. Food Quality and Preference, 83, 103896. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodqual.2020.103896.

⁵ Weisstein, F. L., Meyer, J., & Kershaw, J. (2023). A matter of alignment? Effects of product types and environmental claim framing on consumer evaluation of sustainable foods. Business Strategy and the Environment (n/a). https://doi.org/10.1002/bse.3565.

Jonathan Kershaw is an associate professor of food and nutrition at Bowling Green State University.

This article was originally published in the November/December 2023 issue of Food in Canada.

Biodegradation describes the process of breaking material down into natural substances within a certain timeframe after disposal. When biodegradation occurs under different conditions, different terms are used, such as composting, anaerobic digestion, and biodegradation in soil and in marine water.

A variety of bio-based materials can be used for packaging. Cellulose is derived from cotton, trees, hemp, and wood pulp. It can be made into bag applications for dried fruits, biscuits, rice, dried beans, pasta, tea leaves, coffee beans, sweets, and herbs. Mushroom packaging can be made by mixing fungus sprouts or mycelia with seedlings or other residues from agriculture. Mycelium is lightweight and easy to mold. Its properties are similar to Styrofoam. Bagasse is a pulpy residue left over from crushed sugarcane stalks. It can be made into foodservice packaging. Coconut husk can be pressed and formed into packaging, which can often look like cardboard. Chitin is the polysaccharide found in the shells of shrimps and other crustaceans. Chitin with fibroin (an insoluble protein found in silkworms) makes a plastic-like material that can be used to develop a biodegradable alternative for food packaging. A biodegradable and edible product can be made from brown seaweed extract and calcium chloride to create a gel-like material. It can be used to replace plastic bottles with an edible water container.

Bioplastics

Bioplastics are a type of plastic that is bio-based and biodegradable. Two examples of bioplastics are polylactic acid (PLA) and polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA). PLA is a type of polyester made from fermented starch from corn, cassava, maize, sugarcane, or sugar beet pulp. PHA is a polyester synthesized directly by fermentation of a carbon substrate inside a micro-organism. PLA and PHA are used as conventional plastic packaging alternatives. PLA is often used for plastic films, bottles, food and deli containers, salad boxes, coffee cups, and compostable cutlery. PHA is used for single-use packaging for foods, beverages, and consumer products.

Not all bio-based plastics are biodegradable. Bio-based plastics are defined as materials for which at least a portion of the material is produced from renewable raw materials. Common commodity plastics like polyethylene terephthalate, polyamide, and polypropylene have been manufactured from fermentation byproducts of biological feedstocks such as sugarcane, sugar beets, and corn. Although bio-based, these plastics are chemically identical to petrochemical-based plastics and therefore not biodegradable.

There are environmental benefits for using bio-based packaging. Bio-based packaging is made from renewable plant sources. Unlike petroleum-based materials, feedstocks from plant-based materials remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere during their growing phase, thus reducing the carbon footprint of the material. Plant-based products can help reduce landfill waste by offering recycling and composability options. Plant-based alternatives to traditional plastics, along with improved collection infrastructure, can prevent litter from ending up in water bodies.

Bio-based packaging is under constant development with the objective of overcoming resource depletion and counteracting plastics pollution. Transparency about environmentally friendly packaging will allow consumers to make informed purchasing and disposal decisions. Package functionality and end-of-life disposal should be considered during the innovation process. New tech for the production of bio-based materials using urban, agricultural, and food waste as feedstock will establish a sustainable production value chain for the future design of bio-based packaging.

Carol Zweep is food consulting manager for NSF. Contact her at czweep@nsf.org.

This column was originally published in the November/December 2023 issue of Food in Canada.

The project is valued at just over $4 million and is partly funded through CFIN’s Food Innovation Challenge Program.

Crush Dynamics leverages innovative fermentation of upcycled wine derivatives and agricultural waste to produce a proprietary, high-performance food ingredient. The resulting polyphenol-rich ingredient enhances food quality by enabling up to 50 per cent sugar reduction, 80 per cent sodium reduction, and improved texture while also extending shelf-life.

This single ingredient provides food and beverage manufacturers with an opportunity to reduce complexity in their supply chain while delivering the clean label their consumers are demanding.

The “Upcycling Agricultural Side Streams into High Performance Food Solutions Through Process Optimization” project aims to demonstrate Crush’s production process at scale, from pre-processing treatments to fermentation and drying, employing automation to meet the demand forecasted by project partners (Purdys Chocolatier and Ecovatec Solutions) and other potential customers.

Through the fermentation of these waste products, Crush’s sustainable approach can help prevent up to 50 million tons of annual CO₂ emissions.

This funding call from CFIN targeted disruptive solutions and innovative strategies for addressing food and beverage processing challenges.

While the food and beverage manufacturing sector has seen strong growth over the last few years, it also faces many acute problems. Labour scarcity and inflationary pressures are constraining growth for many firms, despite continued strong consumer spending and the recession proof nature of the industry. Additional challenges like extending product shelf life, reducing energy consumption, and alleviating food waste are all hampering manufacturers as they strive to reduce costs and carbon footprints. As firms seek to grow amidst current market conditions, many are looking to optimize, automate, and increase the value of their products.

“Breakthrough innovation in the food and beverage industry is essential for addressing the pressing challenges faced by manufacturers. In the face of labour constraints, cost pressures, and sustainability imperatives, food innovation takes centre stage as the linchpin for overcoming obstacles and ensuring a resilient and forward-looking food sector,” said Dana McCauley CEO, CFIN.

“Crush Dynamics’ new bio-fermentation process offers a concrete solution to address the food and beverage industry’s most pressing challenges. This innovative solution will help the industry improve food quality, reduce production costs and carbon footprints,” added François-Philippe Champagne, innovation, science and industry minister.

“We are incredibly honoured to receive this support from the Canadian Food Innovation Network. Working with our partners, we look forward to advancing the state of the art in food formulation powered by polyphenols,” said Kirk Moir CEO, Crush Dynamics.

By switching to cargo ships that use fuels made from waste, such as used cooking oil, the company aims to reduce its annual greenhouse gas emissions from shipping by around 200,000 metric tons of CO₂ equivalent.

“Reaching net zero requires changing many aspects of how we source, make, and distribute our products,” said Stephanie Hart, executive vice-president and head of operations at Nestle. “The agreements we’ve signed with our shipping partners will help us cut emissions and immediately reduce our carbon footprint. We know this is an interim solution and continue to encourage the development of longer term decarbonization solutions in shipping and distribution.”

Although shipping makes up a small proportion of Nestle’s overall carbon footprint, the company is committed to reducing the impact of its logistics services as part of its path to net zero.

According to the information provided by the shipping companies, fuels made from waste offer a reduction of at least 70 per cent in equivalent emissions compared with standard options.

The agreements signed with Hapag-Lloyd, Maersk and CMA CGM cover half of Nestle’s shipping volumes moved in 2023, with an option to extend this agreement into 2024 and beyond. It means that the shipping companies will use alternative fuels to move an equivalent amount of tonnage in their operations this year.

Access to these patents will help the industry reformulate ice cream products that remain stable at the warmer freezer temperature of -12 C, rather than the current industry standard of -18 C. It is hoped that by sharing these patents with other ice cream manufacturers the industry will be able to move toward more energy-efficient freezer cabinets across the globe.

Last year, Unilever announced its ambition to increase the temperature of its last mile ice cream freezer cabinets, whilst ensuring the same ice cream quality and consumer experience. Since then, research conducted at Colworth, Unilever’s Global Ice Cream R&D Centre and two pilots in Germany have confirmed an energy reduction of around 25 per cent per freezer cabinet at the warmer temperature of -12 C.

Andy Sztehlo, chief R&D officer, Ice Cream, at Unilever said, “We’re pleased to take this next step in our work to increase the temperature of our last mile ice cream freezer cabinets. By granting a free non-exclusive license to these 12 reformulation patents, we hope our peers and partners from across the ice cream sector will benefit and work to tackle emissions across the industry.”

Emissions from retail ice cream freezers account for 10 per cent of Unilever’s value chain greenhouse gas footprint. Unilever’s Climate Transition Action Plan sets out the company’s roadmap to reach its climate targets, including achieving net zero emissions across its value chain by 2039, and a science-based target to halve the emissions impact of its products on a consumer use basis by 2030, against a 2010 baseline.

Industry partners can contact icecream.reformulations@unilever.com to receive further information about obtaining a license.

Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) published a Regulatory Framework Paper in April 2023, regarding recycled content and labelling. The recycled content requirements would exclude certain products, such as food-contact packaging other than beverage containers. The Framework notes that food-grade recycled resins are in limited supply for many types of food packaging. Beverage containers are included as “recycling processes producing food-grade PET and HDPE are relatively mature, and beverage bottles made from these resins have a proven ability to incorporate high levels of recycled content.”

The Framework also includes recyclability labelling requirements for all consumer-facing primary, secondary and e-commerce plastic packaging (including food) with limited exceptions. Regulated parties (e.g. manufactures, importers, brand owners) would be required to assess recyclability in each province or territory where the item is sold before placing the item on the market with the prescribed recyclability logo on the label. The Framework proposes a phased-in implementation, starting in 2026. However, the enacting regulations are not yet published, so the actual transition period is unknown. ECCC has indicated it will align as closely as possible to the compliance dates of Health Canada and CFIA’s food labelling co-ordination policy.

P2 Notice

In August, ECCC released a consultation for a pollution prevention planning notice (P2 Notice) for food-contact packaging, targeted at Canada’s largest grocery retailers. The P2 Notice is an alternative regulatory instrument aimed at reducing the environmental impact of food-contact packaging excluded from the recycled content requirements under the Framework. The P2 Notice would set targets related to recycled content; reduction, reuse, and redesign of primary food plastic packaging; and sale of products within reuse-refill systems, concentrated products, and products free of plastic packaging. Large grocery retailers would be required to prepare and implement a P2 plan to meet these targets. ECCC’s consultation notes these retailers are at the centre of the value chain and have the ability to engage with brands and suppliers to influence practices throughout the supply chain.

Proposed actions to reduce food plastic packaging must also be considered in light of the current food regulatory framework. The safety of food packaging materials is regulated under Part B Division 23 of the Food and Drug Regulations, and section 4 of the Food and Drugs Act, which has the effect of prohibiting the sale of food that may be harmful to the consumer, including due to its packaging.

There is currently no requirement for food packaging to obtain an approval. Companies may make a voluntary submission to obtain a letter of no objection if Health Canada considers the packaging acceptable from a food chemical safety perspective. Health Canada has, however, signalled its intent to move forward with a mandatory pre-market review program for food packaging materials as part of ECCC’s Zero Plastic Waste Agenda. The details of a mandatory program are not yet available, but Health Canada published revised guidelines for using recycled plastics in food packaging in March 2023 for determining safety and acceptability of post-consumer recycled plastics.

Food waste prevention

At the same time, there is growing consensus on the need to reduce food waste as another important step in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food examined rising food costs in Canada, culminating in a report published in June 2023. One of the report recommendations was investigating eliminating best-before dates to reduce food waste, and ensuring plastic reduction requirements are attainable by extending the implementation timeline for a single-use plastics ban and ensuring commercially viable alternatives to plastics will be available in needed quantities.

Reducing plastic pollution is an important environmental priority, but it will have ripple effects. ECCC, Health Canada and CFIA must continue working collaboratively to ensure the Zero Plastic Waste Agenda doesn’t compromise food safety or lead to increasing food waste. 

Katrina Coughlin is a partner in the Ottawa office of Gowling WLG, specializing in food and drug regulatory law. Contact her at katrina.coughlin@gowlingwlg.com.

This column was originally published in the October 2023 issue of Food in Canada.

“With this transition, no virgin PET plastic will be used for our sparkling 500 ml bottles under normal circumstances going forward in Canada,” said Kurt Ritter, vice-president and general manager, sustainability, Coca-Cola North America. “We hope that transitioning our 500 ml sparkling portfolio to 100 per cent recycled plastic will increase the amount of high-quality, food-grade, recycled plastic available in Canada and, ultimately, enable us to offer more of our brands in this sustainable format.”

The shift supports the Coca-Cola Company’s World Without Waste goals to use at least 50 per cent recycled content in its packaging by 2030, and to reduce the use of virgin plastic.

Bottles made with 100 per cent recycled plastic create and sustain a circular economy for plastic packaging. Once the material (PET) is recycled, it is cleaned, sorted and ground into small flakes that become raw material for more new bottles.

“We’re proud to partner with The Coca-Cola Company on our transition to 100 per cent recycled plastic bottles across Canada,” said Todd Parsons, CEO of Coca-Cola Canada Bottling. “We’re on a journey to be the leading beverage partner in Canada, and one of the ways we’re doing that is by earning our social license to operate by driving a circular economy for our packaging. Every one of these 100 per cent recycled plastic bottles represents meaningful progress on that journey.”

The new recycled plastic bottles will be produced locally at the Brampton, Ont., Calgary, Alba., Lachine, Que., and Richmond, B.C., manufacturing facilities, by Coke Canada Bottling.

Known for its in-house plastics and paper recycling system that produces 100 per cent recyclable plastic films, EcoPoly has received increased demand for its products from clients globally. FedDev Ontario’s investment will help them meet this growth, by adopting new, automated, high-speed manufacturing equipment to increase production, especially of its larger, biodegradable trash liners used by food service and agricultural firms.

“Canadians have been clear – they want to grow their local economy while ensuring a clean environment for future generations. This investment in EcoPoly Solutions will pave the way for Canadian businesses to meet the demand for products that help Canadians reduce plastic waste as we work toward a greener Canada. Our government is pleased to support organizations like this that will create good jobs for rural communities as we move toward new, innovative solutions to fight climate change,” said Filomena Tassi, the Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario.

“We are proud to be a Canadian company that has been innovating and growing since our founding in 1991. The support we have received from FedDev Ontario has been instrumental in the implementation of the next phase of our growth. The timing could not have been better and the entire process with FedDev Ontario has been tremendous from the beginning,” added Derek Rynard, CEO, EcoPoly Solutions.