News item | 17-02-2023 | 14:19
The Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality (LNV) and Wageningen University & Research (WUR) are taking the initiative to improve transparency about the sustainability of food products in stores. Companies and consumers must be given the opportunity to compare the environmental impact of products. One of the options is a clear European eco-label. The first international event took place in The Hague yesterday conference place on the question of how to develop a single measurement system for food sustainability in Europe.
There are currently several private and public eco-labels, quality marks and forms of expression in Europe that differ per country. In the Netherlands alone there are more than 140 quality marks and logos on packaging. These usually only highlight one or a few sustainability aspects, such as CO2 emissions or animal welfare. In addition, these expressions are not always transparent and verifiable. All those different quality marks are confusing for consumers. Although Milieu Centraal has selected twelve top quality marks, a good comparison is extremely complex.
A harmonized way of providing insight into the sustainability of products should remove this ambiguity. An eco-label can show at a glance what the impact of the product is on the environment. In this way, a consumer can make an informed choice, for example, for a can of green beans from abroad or fresh carrots from the Netherlands. Or opt for meat or a plant-based meat substitute. This should also lead to more competition on sustainability in the market, instead of solely on the price of foodstuffs.
Minister Piet Adema:
“The sustainable choice must become the easy choice for consumers. Consumers must therefore be able to compare products reliably in terms of sustainability. This also encourages retail and industry to compete on sustainability and supports farmers who need to be able to earn a fair income. That is why I want to make agreements in the Agricultural Agreement about making the supermarket shelf more sustainable. If we can realize this on a European scale, it will also provide a level playing field for our farmers who produce and export sustainably.”
Game changer
Researchers at WUR conclude in a new study that an eco-label a game changer can contribute to food sustainability. It is expected that a standard, reliable eco-label will lead to food companies making their range of products more sustainable. The researchers also point out that governments and chain partners can use the data on the environmental impact to set goals for a more sustainable food supply.
In the letter to parliament dated 29 March 2022, then Minister of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality Staghouwer already wrote about his intention to stimulate the demand for more sustainable food products and to want to collaborate at European level. In anticipation of a possible European eco-label, Wageningen University & Research and the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality have been working with 25 Dutch parties since last year on a standard methodology for measuring the environmental impact of food. Supermarket chains, food processing companies, feed suppliers and knowledge institutions, such as Milieu Centraal and RIVM, participate in this collaboration.
This follows from it Climate agreement. It has been agreed that food products will voluntarily provide insight into the climate impact of their products from 2025. This can result in information on the packaging or, for example, through reports via the trade associations.