Sustainability Remains Top 3 Goal for Food and Beverage Supply Chains

A recent report from DNV highlights the urgent need for the food and beverage sector to transform its supply chains to meet sustainability demands amid global challenges, with 75% ranking sustainability among their Top 3 goals, ahead of cost efficiency (63%) and regulatory compliance (49%).

“The food and beverage industry faces an era of significant transformation as sustainability within the entire supply chain becomes an urgent priority. Global disruptions, including the COVID-19 pandemic, geopolitical tensions, and the growing impact of climate change, have intensified existing challenges while introducing new complexities to the industry’s supply chains,” says Geir Fuglerud, CEO, supply chain and product assurance at DNV. “This report is a blueprint for companies to address the challenges ahead, leveraging digital innovation to balance cost-efficiency and environmental responsibility.”

Key takeaways:

• While digital transformation is crucial for creating lean and green supply chains, the report’s findings highlight that it must be coupled with robust methodologies for data collection and verification.
• New EU directives, including the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive and the Packaging Waste Directive, are driving companies to address sustainability comprehensively, from carbon footprints to human rights concerns.