Comment

Comment: Going giddy for Gizzi

A chance periodical purchase on the way to a regenerative agriculture conference in The Netherlands leaves me in a sustainable sandwich spin. By David Burrows. I am on my way to Amsterdam for the regenerative agriculture and sustainable food systems summit, and browsing the magazine rack for something that’ll last the one-hour flight from Edinburgh…
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Time to turn the tide on fast food ads

Advertising and PR agencies are pledging not to work with fossil fuel companies, or gambling and tobacco brands. They should banish their unhealthy food clients too, says Ali Morpeth. The school summer holidays are a massive juggle. I'm a full-time working mum and my job as a public health nutritionist working on advocacy and policy…
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COMMENT: It’s time we paid the true price of food

The environmental and health costs of our food are largely excluded from the price we pay at the till. Foodservice operators are in a position to change that, says Nick Hughes.  How much do you pay for your morning cup of coffee? Now let me rephrase the question: how much would you be prepared to…
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COMMENT: Playing the system for savings just won’t work anymore

Buyers need to adapt to a food system that is now in a phase of major transition, argues David Read, founder and chairman of Prestige Purchasing. The UK’s 67 million population spent £240bn on food in 2022 through a food system that’s become highly industrialised, complex and dynamic – reflecting billions of pounds of private…
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COMMENT: Lobby groups continue to side with the laggards

The food industry is being poorly represented when it comes to sustainability, so maybe it’s time for a change. By David Burrows. The British Retail Consortium (BRC) and Food and Drink Federation (FDF) are lobbying for EPR (extended producer responsibility) on packaging to be ripped up and for the UK government to start again. Hang on. Last…
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COMMENT: Beware the green-wagoning surrounding carbon neutral claims.

Constant undermining of carbon offsets is causing net-zero ambitions to be ‘thwarted by fear’, says Simon Heppner. The Guardian report last month on the challenges faced by the voluntary carbon market raised questions (again) about the role of carbon offsets in corporate climate strategy. This month the same outlet reported how the UK advertising watchdog was launching stricter…
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COMMENT: Rousing customers to adopt reuse

Foodservice brands struggling with reusable packaging regulations need to invest in more effective communications, says Heather Davies In France, the new anti-waste, pro-circular economy law (AGEC) came into force on January 1st 2023. This requires fast-food restaurants to replace single-use food containers with reusable crockery and cutlery for people eating in their establishments. In such…
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COMMENT: Everyone should support fair dealings in dairy

Foodservice companies can support more resilient dairy supply chains by prioritising trust and transparency in relationships, says Abigail Williams of the Food Ethics Council. Back in February 2021 ministers announced plans to publish a new code of conduct that would ensure fairness across the dairy supply chain, following widespread recognition of the instability and insecurity…
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