Sustainable Foods Summit is back in Amsterdam on 26-27 June, with a focus on sustainability schemes and eco-labels, as well as environmentally friendly packaging solutions
The Sustainable Foods Summit takes place on 26-27 June in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, throwing a spotlight on sustainability schemes, green packaging and sustainable food ingredients.
The two-day summit brings together leading industry experts, certifiers, policy makers and innovators to explore how the food industry can drive the sustainability agenda forward, organisers Ecovia stated.
“The number of sustainability schemes and eco-labels has grown rapidly over the past two decades,” the company said. “Among them, organic remains the leading eco-label in the European food industry, with product sales surpassing €50bn. Luis Carazo Jimenez, head of the organics unit at the European Commission, will provide an update on the European Organic Action Plan. Under its Farm to Fork strategy, the EU has set a target of organic farming to reach 25 per cent of its agricultural land by 2030. Francesca Lilliu of IFOAM Organics Europe will share the latest data and trends on the European organic food market.”
The number of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)-based eco-label schemes in the food industry is also increasing, Ecovia said. “These schemes give products ratings according to their environmental impact and can help consumers make sustainable choices,” it explained. “Koen Boone from Wageningen University will give a comparative analysis of the leading such eco-labels in the food industry. Tommy Buckingham from Carbon Trust will highlight the role of carbon footprint and labelling to meet consumer needs for low impact products.”
An expert panel from Kantar, Whole Foods Market and FoodChain ID will also explore consumer trust in labels, the risks of label fatigue and strategies for more effective engagement.
The summit’s green packaging session will include insights from Dr Wolfgang Trunk of the European Commission, who will detail the EU’s newly enacted Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation, designed to cut waste and promote circular systems. The expanded Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) rules is expected to hold brands more accountable for packaging waste.
“Dr Alan Stuart Campbell (The LCA Centre) will explain how life cycle assessments can guide sustainable material selection,” Ecovia said. “TerraCycle will showcase waste-diversion strategies, while Andrea Lunzer (Future Proof Studio) will discuss transitioning to unpackaged product models. A panel discussion will examine how to engage consumers in the shift toward sustainable packaging habits and alternative retail models.”
