Consumers now want sustainable confectionery. Rutger de Kort, Sustainability Manager at GNT, explains how the Exberry Colouring Foods supplier is working to create a ”greener“ future.
Sustainability is more important than ever, with research showing 57 % of consumers worldwide now consider “environmentally friendly” claims to be important in confectionery products. It is little surprise, therefore, that brands are taking steps to advertise their sustainability credentials. Between 2016 and 2021, the number of global sugar and gum confectionery launches featuring “environmentally friendly” claims increased by 70 %.
Of course, product success depends on a wide range of factors. Shoppers also want products to deliver on taste, texture, and appearance, while 72 % say they want confectionery and chocolate to be natural. Brands therefore need ingredients that tick every box.
“We create Exberry Colouring Foods from non-GMO fruit, vegetables and plants using traditional physical processing methods”, Rutger de Kort, Sustainability Manager at GNT, explains. “These plant-based concentrates support clean label declarations and can provide shades from across the rainbow in almost any application. Nonetheless, it’s become clear to us that, if a company is not sustainable, there will soon be no reason for it to exist. We’ve therefore set out a roadmap for 2030 containing a total of 17 targets.”
One of these is to enrol all of GNT’s contract farmers on sustainable agriculture training programmes. Another key target is increasing the colour content of its main crops by 30 % by the end of the decade. The company will be relying on traditional approaches, including screening for optimal crop varieties, and identifying the ideal planting densities and harvesting periods. Increasing the colour intensity means to achieve the same results with fewer crops, helping to further reduce water and fertilizer use as well as transportation requirements.
“Our vertical supply chain, meanwhile, gives us deep insight into how our raw materials are grown and helps us tell a positive story about our products’ environmental credentials”,
Rutger de Kort notes. “Nonetheless, we know we need more than words to maintain the trust of our customers. To ensure transparency, we’ll soon offer Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) information for Exberry products across scopes 1, 2 and 3.” This data will include direct greenhouse gas emissions, indirect emissions from the generation of purchased energy, and emissions from sources owned or controlled by other entities in the value chain, such as upstream transportation and distribution. This will enable brands to calculate their final products’ total environmental footprint.
Modern consumers want quality confectionery products that are kinder to the planet. Through clear PEF data and the use of natural, sustainable ingredients, it is possible for brands to satisfy even the most demanding shoppers.
