Carbon labelling system could help food firms cut emissions by 30%

Food firms using a new digital carbon labelling system project to see a 30% reduction in their emissions by 2030, the developers have claimed.

Created by tech start-up Dynamify and software firm Klimato, the labelling system has aided its users in reducing emissions by up to 16% in just over a year. According to Dynamify, this translates to a carbon reduction of 30% by 2025.

Food production and catering businesses including Sodexo, Elior, Atalian, ISS Group, Westbury Street Holdings and CH&CO have all used the system to track and manage their carbon footprint.

The platform is designed to allow businesses to manage Scope 3 emissions, which include emissions related to agricultural production, transportation, cooking, delivery and waste.

Emissions-focused packaging and labelling is a growing focus for food and drink manufacturers​​, with a range of different solutions now available.

Carbon emission reductions across Europe

Erik Olsen, head of growth and UK country manager for Klimato, said that the system used in Sweden and across Europe had allowed clients to reduce their emissions a rate which exceeded the UN recommendation.

“There is very strong demand from the UK catering industry for these same results as people become increasingly environmentally aware of the impact of the food they consume​,” Olsen added.

“The UK’s food industry currently accounts for 35% of the country’s greenhouse gas emissions, but we are confident that by this new partnership with Dynamify, we will be able to match the 10.9% carbon annual footprint reduction that we’ve achieved elsewhere.”​

Meanwhile, Dynamify founder Maxwell Harding believes that more food businesses will look to change their product offering in line with the intelligence they glean from the technology as they bid to cut emissions.

“In sites that Dynamify and Klimato are already operating within, we’ve seen a 23% reduction in their carbon footprint in just 18 months​,” Harding said.

“Therefore, we’re confident in our 30% carbon reduction forecast having combined the two services, thanks to rolling carbon labelling out to more ordering channels. The ongoing climate emergency, and events such as the record heat, has prompted more businesses to responsibly accelerate their march towards the UK’s net zero target by 2050​.”

In other news, Heineken invested £25m into its Manchester brewery in a bid to decarbonise production​​.