EIT Food is launching a new Alliance aimed at establishing global standards for environmental impact data in the food industry. The initiative will be spearheaded by Foundation Earth, a leader in environmental scoring, now integrated into EIT Food.
Foundation Earth has been at the forefront of developing independent environmental scoring systems for food and drink products, gaining the support of key players in Europe’s food and drink sector.
The newly formed International Alliance for Food Impact Data aims to tackle the lack of uniform standards and coordination between stakeholders at both EU and international levels, which has delayed the adoption of an environmental scoring system for the industry.
A Major Step Towards Transformation
In a significant move to reshape the environmental impact of the food sector, Foundation Earth has become part of EIT Food, the world’s largest food innovation community, backed by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), a European Union body. This partnership provides the expertise required to advocate for internationally recognized standards for assessing food’s environmental impact.
The Alliance’s goal is to create globally accepted standards for environmental scoring, initially focusing on the EU, whose regulations are often regarded as leading benchmarks. This would allow companies and supply chains to meet compliance requirements across multiple regions with a single standard.
Foundation Earth: Pioneers of Environmental Scoring
Founded in 2021, Foundation Earth has developed systems for environmental scoring labels on food and drink products, gathering support from a wide array of producers, scientists, activists, and political leaders. These systems aim to empower consumers to make more environmentally-conscious choices and provide food producers with credible data to drive sustainable innovation.
However, the lack of unified methodologies and labeling standards globally has hindered the comparability of environmental impact data across the industry. This fragmentation has made it challenging for policymakers, companies, and consumers to assess the true environmental impact of products. The Alliance will address this gap and align efforts with the EU’s Green Claims Directive.
Meeting Net-Zero Commitments
The integration of Foundation Earth into EIT Food is crucial in addressing the complex challenge of environmental data management and governance. The Alliance will work closely with industry, policymakers, and consultancies to create a lasting impact on the sector, helping the industry meet its net-zero targets.
A Unified Vision
EIT Food, highlighted the significance of this partnership, stating that Environmental data is key to transforming food systems. By integrating Foundation Earth’s expertise, we can advance our shared mission of using credible impact data to drive decision-making and innovation across the food and drink industry.
The Future of Environmental Scoring
The International Alliance for Food Impact Data, led by EIT Food, will build on the foundation laid by Foundation Earth to establish a harmonized, standardized system for environmental scoring. This initiative will be instrumental in transforming the environmental credentials of Europe’s food and drink industry, with the potential for global adoption.
For more information:
https://www.eitfood.eu/news/eit-food-foundation-earth-new-alliance-environmental-impact-data-of-food
