China’s Clean Plate: new issue of Just-Food out now

Although China has recently seen a decline in population growth, food security remains a key issue. Last August saw the announcement of the Clean Plate campaign, an initiative to cut down on food waste that, while largely targeted at consumers and the foodservice market, has significant implications for the wider food industry. We look at what lies behind the strategy and how it stands to change the nation’s relationship with food waste.

Talking of shifting food behaviours, shifting diets away from meat and dairy to plant-based protein will be vital in driving down greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture but does a broader concept of a “planet-based diet” hold the key to achieving reductions consistent with the Paris climate goals?

Emissions are a running theme for us this month. Food acounts for a quarter of greenhouse-gas emissions, with much hard work ahead to cut down on this number. As food manufacturers, retailers, and governments all announce moves to achieve net-zero carbon emissions, we report on whether the fiscal system could be part of the solution.

In more positive news, the past year or so has seen developments in the establishment of globally consistent and comparable sustainability reporting standards. The most recent is the International Financial Reporting Standards Foundation’s plans to create a sustainability reporting standards board to operate alongside its existing International Accounting Standards Board. We dive into the implications for food manufacturers that have led the way on sustainability and those that have dragged their feet.

Lastly, we return to food waste once more. A year of preparing three meals a day indoors has brought home the issue of food loss and waste to a growing number of consumers and the emerging upcycled-food industry believes this is its moment. At the vanguard of the movement is the US, where more branded upcycled foods are hitting shelves – but how much potential does this niche market have?

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In this issue 

“We feel the pressure from the market” – Emmi on sustainability targets

Switzerland-based dairy group Emmi has announced a new set of sustainability targets, with an overall aim to be “net-zero” by 2050. Gerold Schatt, head of sustainability at Emmi, talks to Dean Best about the company’s latest goals and the environmental spotlight being shone on the industry as a whole.

Read more.

How food companies are singling out China’s singles

The growing number of Chinese who live alone for longer periods than has historically been the case has started to draw the attention of packaged food manufacturers, which are tailoring products to the country’s singles. Peter Peverelli reports. 

Read more.

China’s war on food waste

Although the Asian powerhouse has recently seen a decline in population growth, food security remains a key issue. Andy Coyne looks at what lies behind China’s attempts to tackle food waste through its Clean Plate strategy. 

Read more.

Why planet-based diets are key to meeting agricultural emissions goals

Shifting diets away from meat and dairy to plant-based protein will be vital in driving down greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture but does a broader concept of a “planet-based diet” hold the key to achieving reductions consistent with the Paris climate goals? Ben Cooper explores the implications for food companies.

Read more.

Carbon emissions: a taxing problem for UK food

Food manufacturers, retailers, and governments are all announcing moves to achieve net-zero carbon emissions. With food making up a quarter of greenhouse-gas emissions, much hard work lies ahead. Could the fiscal system be part of the solution? David Green reports.

Read more.

Reformulating the alphabet soup of ESG reporting

Tangible progress is, at last, being made towards establishing global standards for sustainability reporting, with implications for food manufacturers that have led the way on sustainability and those that have dragged their feet. Ben Cooper reports.

Read more.

Moving on up: upcycling in the US

A year of preparing three meals a day indoors has brought home the issue of food loss and waste to a growing number of consumers and the emerging upcycled-food industry believes this is its moment. At the vanguard of the movement is the US, where more branded upcycled foods are hitting shelves – but how much potential does this niche market have? Dean Best reports.

Read more.

Preview – Just-Food June 2021

The pandemic has seen many companies turn to technology to enhance resilience amid the most challenging operating period in decades. In the next issue, we explore the latest tech breakthroughs in foodservice, processing, food packaging, and more, as we look into how they could help shape the industry’s future development.