Those looking ahead won’t put sustain­ability on hold

“Smart food companies will continue with sustainability,” says Ceel Elemans of ING, making it clear where he believes the industry should be heading. The European Commission aims to ease the burden on businesses with new sustainability reporting rules, but those looking to move forward are choosing to keep investing.

The European Commission plans to cut administrative burdens for companies by 25 percent. Three existing directives will be merged into a single regulation, known as the Omnibus Act. That will reduce overlap and significantly cut down paperwork. Thresholds will also be raised, and for most companies, the start date will be pushed back by two years. As a result, around 80 percent of food businesses will no longer be required to report.

More room for individual direction

The proposal also gives companies more freedom to set their own sustainability agenda. The Commission wants to significantly reduce the number of mandatory data points. That saves time and allows companies to focus more easily on their own priorities.

Supermarkets continue to drive the chain

The goals of the EU Green Deal remain unchanged. And major players like supermarkets must still report in detail. They, in turn, pass these requirements on to their suppliers. According to Elemans, this makes it all the more important not to slow down now. As Alfred Attema of confectionery producer CCI puts it: “It’s good for the business to steer proactively based on its own strategy, rather than only responding to legislation.”

Ing.nl