The food company Upfield, manufacturer of brands such as Rama, Lätta and Becel, has announced that it will introduce CO2 labelling on 100 million packs of its plant-based products by the end of 2021.
The aim is to inform consumers and support them in making conscious choices. Decisions about the environmental impact of the food they choose to meet. Brands such as Country Crock Plant Butter in the USA and Flora Plant in the UK and Ireland have already introduced the new labelling. In the coming months, Upfield plans to introduce the labels for other brands such as Flora, Becel, ProActiv and Rama.
CO2 labelling to influence purchasing decisions
According to a report published last year, consumer behaviour is positively influenced by carbon labelling when making purchasing decisions. Consumers can directly compare different food groups, they often opt for food with a lower environmental impact. Consumers apparently tend to underestimate the CO2 impact of the food they eat. Information is therefore also a crucial step in the transition to a more sustainable diet.
„Today's food labelling already provides consumers with a lot of important information about ingredients, health benefits, allergens, storage and use. By adding carbon labelling, consumers will also be able to better understand the impact of their food choices on our climate. Our initiative aims to support the transition to a more sustainable food system. We are therefore also calling on our industry peers to follow suit and introduce carbon labelling on packaging now.“ Dr Jeanette Fielding, Chief Corporate Affairs and Communications Officer at Upfield
Upfield commissioned the Swiss environmental consultancy Quantis to carry out an independent assessment of the environmental impact of the entire life cycle of its products. The Study was conducted in 21 markets in Europe and North America was carried out. According to the study, Upfield's plant-based margarines and spreads have a 70 per cent lower carbon footprint on average. They also use only half the amount of water and require 2/3 less land than comparable dairy-based products.
Source: Upfield
