Innovations to improve the sustainability of food 

For a long time, the food industry felt little urgency to address sustainability challenges. Beyond the obvious issue of non-reusable packaging, consumers and regulators were not deeply aware of food’s impact on climate change. However, this is changing fast, particularly among consumers. Increasing demands for transparency are forcing players across the food supply chain to audit and improve the sustainability of their operations. While some improvements are straightforward, meaningful progress will require innovation to tackle complex goals such as reducing food waste and cutting emissions. 

1. Starting by knowing your impact, being transparent about it, and engage the consumer on it 

To act on sustainability, the first challenge is to measure the emissions and impact of each food item. That becomes exponentially more complicated as you go down the food value chain, as the information on the origin of food products becomes thinner. 

To address this, startups like Carbon Cloud have developed carbon accounting tools that allow manufacturers to trace and quantify the carbon footprint of their products. These tools enable food businesses to: 

• Understand where emissions come from in the food supply chain (from transport to livestock feed choices to energy use in manufacturing) and, hence, to make choices or help suppliers in their transition. 

• Compare the different products in a range on their environmental and economical (sales) value. 

• Market products to consumers through a tag displaying the amount of emissions (notably for products that are better than comparables). That’s what brands such as Oatly for consumer products and Unilever for a part of its foodservice range are doing. 

In foodservice, transparency tools are also gaining traction. Startups like Klimato help restaurants and caterers calculate the environmental impact of menu items. By analyzing supplier data and recipes, Klimato generates sustainability scores that chefs can display to diners. Beyond engaging consumers, these tools encourage a shift toward plant-based options, benefiting both the planet and restaurant margins. 

2. Food waste: artificial intelligence and upcycling are the next frontier 

Food waste remains a critical issue at every stage of the supply chain, but innovation is offering new solutions. One well-known example is Too Good To Go, which connects consumers with businesses looking to sell surplus food nearing expiration. 

Now, many companies are leveraging artificial intelligence to go beyond and reduce this problem at its origin. Startups such as Fullsoon are developing software tools that help businesses predict how much they will sale in a given day depending on parameters such as the weather. 

Also, another exciting area to follow is upcycling, or companies turning food byproducts into new valuable items. A good example is Kaffe Bueno, a Danish startup which converts coffee grounds into ingredients that can be used either in food (to provide an umiami taste) or in cosmetics. 

3. Sustainable Packaging Solutions 

Single-use packaging has long been a sustainability pain point, but innovation is starting to deliver viable alternatives. Tightening regulations have accelerated the development of scalable solutions. These range from low-tech options, like Pandobac’s reusable transport trays for foodservice, to innovative materials, such as seaweed-based containers from Notpla and biodegradable films by Tipa. These alternatives demonstrate that sustainable packaging is moving beyond niche experiments and entering the mainstream. 

A Call to Action 

Sustainability is no longer optional for the food industry, it has become a necessity. Innovation is advancing rapidly, but many solutions remain expensive due to the need for scaling. Embracing them early is not only a step toward lowering your own environmental impact but also a way to influence the entire food value chain. Businesses that act now will not only lead on sustainability but also position themselves competitively in a rapidly changing landscape.