Nestlé joins sustainable food initiative

Nestlé has recently joined the Ellen MacArthur Foundation Food initiative, which is working to develop circular economy solutions for today’s food system.

The three-year food initiative, supported by the Philanthropic Partner Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, was launched following the publication of the 'Cities and Circular Economy for Food' report at the World Economic Forum in January. The report concluded that to meet the dietary needs of a growing global population, while restoring biodiversity and addressing the climate crisis, the food system requires fundamental redesign.

In three Flagship Cities — London, New York and São Paulo — the Foundation will lead major food system projects to demonstrate how a circular economy vision for food can be achieved at scale. It is the first time cities and companies, including Nestlé, Danone, Mizkan, Novamont, Veolia and Yara, have come together in this way.

Solutions will be based on three principles:

1. Source food grown regeneratively, and locally where appropriate — Producing food regeneratively to rebuild the health of the natural world, rather than degrade it.
2. Make the most of food — Food is grown, processed, transported, prepared and by-products managed in ways that benefit the health of people and natural systems. Food is designed to cycle, so by-products from one enterprise can help to improve soil health.
3. Design and market healthier food products — Waste is designed out and food products are created to not only be healthy from a nutritional standpoint, but in the way they are produced.

According to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, achieving these ambitions could unlock annual benefits worth US$2.7 trillion by 2050. It could reduce CO₂ emissions by 4.3 billion tonnes per year, as well as significantly reducing foodborne diseases and antimicrobial resistance.

"This is a unique opportunity to create a system which helps to tackle the climate crisis, restore biodiversity, improve human health and reconnect people with their food, while creating new business opportunities," said Dr Clementine Schouteden, Ellen MacArthur Foundation Food Initiative Lead.

For more information about the food initiative, click here.

Image credit: ©iStockphoto.com/Jim Jurica