PRESS RELEASE -
Arrowhead® Mountain Spring Water announced today that it has dramatically increased the amount of recycled plastic used in its bottle production. Thanks to the high recycling rate of California residents, and with help from its strategic partner CarbonLITE, Arrowhead now ensures that 9 out of 10 of its Arrowhead bottles made in California incorporate 50% post-consumer recycled plastic content.
PRODUCT, SERVICE & DESIGN INNOVATION -
Coffee cups, coffee capsules and MDF are some of the most popular and hard-to-recycle products in circulation, accounting for hundreds of thousands of tons of waste sent to landfill each year — an issue that companies and governments are striving to address. New initiatives and innovations across industries could, however, set a new standard for these problematic products.
PRESS RELEASE -
Chocolate bars including famous brands such as Kit Kat, Yorkie and Aero will contain 10% less sugar by next year, manufacturer Nestle has announced.
The sugar will be replaced with higher quantities of existing ingredients or other, non-artificial ingredients, and the amount of calories will be limited. It means about 7,500 tonnes less sugar will be used to make the confectioner's products by 2018.
PRESS RELEASE -
Nestlé S.A., today released its annual Nestlé in society: Creating Shared Value and meeting our commitments report for 2016. The report demonstrates how the company purpose, ambitions and 42 specific public commitments contribute to society.
Guided by its purpose of enhancing quality of life and contributing to a healthier future, Nestlé works alongside partners to create shared value, thus contributing to society while ensuring the long‑term success of the business.
WASTE NOT -
As has been much discussed here at Sustainable Brands, roughly a third of all food produced in the world is never eaten, which has tremendous economic, social and environmental consequences.
CHEMISTRY, MATERIALS & PACKAGING -
Food industry giants Danone, Nestlé and Kroger are the latest companies to harness design and circular principles to move the food and beverage industry towards zero waste.
Danone and Nestlé Waters, two of the world’s largest bottled water companies, have partnered with California-based startup Origin Materials to form the NaturALL Bottle Alliance. Together, they aim to develop and launch at commercial scale a PET plastic bottle made entirely from bio-based materials.
PRODUCT, SERVICE & DESIGN INNOVATION -
A recent move by the New York City public school system signals a major win for small food companies and champions of better nutrition. The pressure to provide wholesome, nutritious foods is considerable for public schools across the U.S. following the introduction of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act in 2010, and many rely on products from large companies such as Kellogg, Post Foods and General Mills, which are both affordable and accessible, for their breakfast programs.
PRESS RELEASE -
Biotechnology leader Danimer Scientific and global food and beverage company PepsiCo, Inc. (PEP) have announced an agreement that includes development of Danimer Scientifics’ biodegradable film resins to meet the sustainable flexible packaging requirements of PepsiCo’s global food and beverage business.
The agreement builds on a long-standing relationship that has included the development of bio-based compostable packaging for PepsiCo’s snack brands, and will facilitate the expansion of Danimer Scientifics’ NodaxTM PHA plant.
PRESS RELEASE -
CVS Pharmacy is the first national retail pharmacy chain to announce the removal of partially hydrogenated oils (PHO), the primary source of artificial trans fats in processed foods, from all its exclusive store brands food products. The retailer now offers over 600 exclusive snack and grocery options which are free from artificial trans fats. This comes a year and a half ahead of the Food and Drug Administration's deadline of June 2018 for processed foods to be reformulated without artificial trans fats, underscoring the company's ongoing commitment to customers' health.
WASTE NOT -
The use of post-consumer recycled materials as feedstock for new bottles and cans has become common practice for the beverage industry, but there is still more to be done to reduce waste and increase recycling. Industry giants PepsiCo and Coca-Cola are working towards overcoming these challenges by supporting eco-innovation and government initiatives.
The recipients of PepsiCo’s Zero Impact Fund — an expansion of PepsiCo Recycling’s college and university programs to help bring campus eco-innovations to life — have been announced. Eight colleges and universities will each receive a contribution from PepsiCo to help accomplish their environmental goals:
PRESS RELEASE -
A "firm belief" that business growth and sustainability go hand-in-hand has seen Heineken publish its latest sustainability report alongside a financial report for the first time, with the report highlighting rapid business expansion alongside a decrease in emissions.
Heineken’s latest sustainability report, released on Wednesday (22 February), reveals a 37% reduction in carbon emissions in production against 2008 levels, just short of the 40% target for 2020. When looking at absolute carbon reductions, a 5% reduction has been recorded in the same timeframe, despite Heineken growing its business volumes by 52%.
PRODUCT, SERVICE & DESIGN INNOVATION -
In an effort to help support farmers and increase the amount of farmland dedicated to organic production, Kashi has introduced a second line of products in its growing Certified Transitional portfolio.
LEADERSHIP -
Daniel Lubetzky, founder and CEO of KIND Healthy Snacks, has launched an independent organization that seeks to improve public health by making truth, transparency and integrity the foremost values in today’s food system.
ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE -
Today, Heineken N.V. released its 2016 Annual Report, marking the first time the company has combined its annual and sustainability report into one document.
PRESS RELEASE -
Auburn Hills, Michigan, February 21, 2017 – BorgWarner helped launch the Michigan Urban Farming Initiative’s (MUFI’s) crowdfunding effort today with a $10,000 donation to support America’s first sustainable urban argihood in Detroit’s North End. If the $50,000 funding goal is met by April 2, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) will provide a matching grant with funds from MEDC’S Public Spaces Community Places program.
ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE -
The Beverage Industry Environmental Roundtable (BIER) has launched a new Future Scenarios Toolkit in an effort to provide informed future planning guidance. The toolkit offers companies a clear and robust framework to analyze potential future scenarios regarding impacts (social, environmental, governmental, etc.) to their business, their supply chain, and their production, as well as successfully prepare to tackle those scenarios.
WASTE NOT -
From 10kg of blueberries to 10-litre tubs of mayonnaise and handmade farmhouse cheese, surplus food is now up for grabs eBay-style, thanks to a new UK-based platform.
Using the principles of the infamous auction site, Takestock applies the transaction to solving food waste. The online trading platform efficiently connects owners of surplus stock with buyers, rather than scrapping it.
PRESS RELEASE -
Beverages major Coca-Cola India has partnered with DCM Shriram (DSCL) along with Solidaridad and International Finance Corporation, for a project to enhance sugarcane yield and improve farmers' income in Uttar Pradesh.
"It is a sustainable supply project, in addition to improving farmers' income. We have come together to increase sugarcane farmers' yield and to bring in sustainable agricultural practices," said Coca-Cola India and South West Asia President Venkatesh Kini.
PRODUCT, SERVICE & DESIGN INNOVATION -
Food waste and plastic packaging pose significant sustainability challenges for the food industry, but two new labeling initiatives in the US and abroad endeavor to change that.
“Best by” and “sell by” labels intended to inform consumers about food quality and safety have never been touted for their clarity. The terminology often confuses consumers, leading them to throw out food items prematurely.
PRESS RELEASE -
PepsiCo has signed on to the Renewable Energy Buyers’ Principles, which tell utilities and other suppliers what industry-leading, multinational companies are looking for when buying renewable energy from the grid.
Sixty-five corporate signatories developed these principles, to spur progress on resolving the challenges they face when buying renewable energy, and to add their perspective to the future of the U.S. energy and electricity system. WRI and WWF facilitated their efforts.