Sustainable Ingredients
supportive supply chain S
responsible Creating a
Meadow, experts in sustainable dairy, plant-based and confectionery ingredients, have gone to lengths in their commitment to sourcing their ingredients from sustainable and ethical suppliers.
ustainability has come to the fore in the ingredients manufacturing industry. Rising ethical consumerism and the need for resource efficiency has made ingredient manufacturers, of all sizes, take serious steps
towards sustainable development. In fact, according to Deloitte’s 2023 report on sustainable consumerism, one in four consumers are prepared to pay more for sustainable products. As the breakdown goes: 26% are prepared to pay more to protect biodiversity, 24% are prepared to pay more for products with sustainable packaging and 25% are willing to pay more for products and services that respect human rights or commit to ethical working practices. What’s more, by engaging in fair labour
practices, reducing reliance on finite resources, reducing waste and optimising current operations, investing in sustainable practices ensures supply-chain resilience. When people are treated fairly and resources are managed responsibly, the supply chain becomes more robust and adaptable to disruptions such as natural disasters. This
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not only protects businesses and customers, but also secures people’s livelihoods. Meadow, experts in sustainable dairy,
plant-based and confectionery ingredients, have gone to lengths in their commitment to sourcing their ingredients from sustainable and ethical suppliers. As Alison Hughes, Head of Insights, from Meadow comments, the confectionery sector’s movement to ethically sourcing raw materials isn’t just a case of safeguarding supply chains, but is also a case of aligning to consumer trends: “The sector as a whole has changed to
reflect consumer behaviours and their greater desire for sustainable practises and better animal welfare. People are increasingly more interested and invested in where their food is coming from and the journey it has taken ‘from farm to fork’.” The confectionery industry relies on a series of ingredients vulnerable to risks that come with climate change, that is, cocoa, palm oil, sugar, vanilla and fruits. Cocoa, though widely used as a base for many indulgent sweet treats, does come with the bittersweet reality that farming cocoa has largely been an unsustainable practice, until now.
The cause for concern in cocoa It is estimated that 70% of the world’s supply of cocoa beans grow in West Africa. In West Africa, cases of drought and high temperatures are forecasted to increase as climate change persists. Cocoa trees are too sensitive to withstand these conditions and what’s more, cocoa farmers have been clearing tropical rainforest to plant new cocoa trees rather than reusing the same land to prevent deforestation. It is also estimated that 70% of West Africa’s illegal deforestation is related to cocoa farming. So, how can the confectionery industry ensure that cocoa is sourced responsibly and sustainably?
Taking ownership of supply chains: Meadow case study Meadow is committed to setting the standards of sustainability in confectionery by protecting ecosystems, reducing its carbon footprint and supporting sustainable farming practices. The target, as a value-added ingredients business, is to take ownership of its supply chain and help customers to achieve their sustainability goals.
KennedysConfection.com and
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