Sustainability  in the food sector

The European Green Deal sets out how to make Europe the first climate-neutral continent by 2050. It maps a new, sustainable and inclusive growth strategy to boost the economy, improve people's health and quality of life, care for nature, and leave no one behind.

Environmental or green claims are any message or representation, which is not mandatory under EU or national law, made in the context of a commercial communication,

which states or implies that a product or trader has a positive or no impact on the environment or is less damaging to the environment compared to other products or traders.  

"Greenwashing" is the term used to describe unsubstantiated, false or misleading green claims.

In an effort to influence consumers to make more sustainable choices, both for environmental and health purposes, the Commission is looking to induce producers to fabricate healthier food and to introduce mandatory front of pack nutritional labelling schemes.  Some Member States are in favor of evaluative systems such as Nutriscore, while others oppose this system and would rather use informative systems such as Nutrinform Battery.  

The Farm to Fork Strategy is at the heart of the Green Deal. It is a program of reforms that aims to achieve a food chain that works for consumers, producers, climate and the environment

Food packaging plays a key role in the sustainability of food systems. The EU policies aim to reduce the use of plastic, hazardous chemicals in food packaging, support the use of innovative and sustainable packaging solutions using environmentally friendly, re-usable and recyclable materials, and contribute to food waste reduction.    

Six commodities: soy, cattle, palm oil, wood, cocoa and coffee, and some of their derivatives, will no longer contribute to deforestation and forest degradation in the EU and the rest of the world. In fact, these products will only be placed on the EU market if they are produced lawfully (according to the rules in force in the country of origin) and " deforestation free" .