The adoption of sustainable practices in the food industry is a complex issue, particularly when it comes to plant-based proteins. While they are often promoted as more sustainable than animal-based proteins, there are many factors to consider, including resource consumption, land use, and greenhouse gas emissions. Lamb and beef, for example, produce 39 kilos and 27 kilos of carbon dioxide for one kilo of meat, respectively, while plant-based foods also have a carbon footprint. Therefore, an integrated approach is required to accurately examine the environmental impact of plant-based proteins.
Carbon footprint tools can help measure sustainability, but they are not the only tool to use. It’s important to ask critical questions about the impact of sourcing, production, and transportation, particularly as plant-based foods occupy a smaller portion of the food market compared to meat products. Agricultural sustainability also plays a substantial role, accounting for 70-80% of the full life-cycle impact of the product, including transportation emissions.
Regenerative agriculture programs offer a potential solution to strengthening sustainability initiatives, as brands like PepsiCo and Mars have committed to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions. However, reducing emissions and footprints is a nuanced issue that requires collaboration between suppliers and stakeholders. Hybridization can offer a cost-effective and sustainable strategy to incorporate more plant-based products into a portfolio, serving as a bridge for consumers to pursue a more plant-based diet.
CPG companies have an opportunity to invest in R&D to improve the quality and sustainability of their products while educating consumers on the benefits of alternative protein sources. The shift to a plant-rich diet is estimated to be the second most powerful solution to reverse climate change, making it essential that the nascent plant-based protein industry does not repeat the same mistakes as the conventional food sector. As the demand for plant-based proteins increases and is expected to grow, companies must take a nuanced and integrated approach to reduce their environmental footprint, improve sustainability metrics and ultimately build more acceptance of new products.
