Sustainability

New emissions rules for pig and poultry farms

The European Commission adopted common emissions rules for large pig and poultry farms. Animal nutrition, manure management, and housing are central to the new requirements. These aim to reduce emissions and cut unnecess..

NVDE: Europe needs to push through with electrification plan

20 July 2026

For many food companies, sustainability revolves around practical questions. Is there enough grid capacity? Will energy remain affordable? And when does investing in electric heat, storage, or cooling actually pay off? T...

Recyclability of primary packaging remains a concern

20 July 2026

The supermarket sector has used less packaging material, but still lags behind on recyclability. This is stated in the CBL Verpakkingsrapportage 2025. Primary packaging in particular remains a concern for the supply chai...

End of Soy Moratorium increases pressure on EUDR

17 July 2026

The end of the Amazon Soy Moratorium is raising major concerns about rising deforestation. With the collapse of this agreement, vast areas of forest are at risk of being lost. Over the next decade, at least 1.4 million a...

Stricter import rules for organic food on the horizon

15 July 2026

Stricter rules are on the way for importing organic food from outside the EU. The European Parliament's agriculture committee approved new measures regarding certification. This decision aims to better protect European p...

EUDR update: palm oil derivatives and instant coffee added

14 July 2026

The European Commission is adding certain palm oil derivatives, instant coffee, and frozen beef tongues to the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). Meanwhile, soybeans for sowing are being removed from the scope. These an...

Rigid standards cost farmers 20 percent of their crop

14 July 2026

The gap between industrial standards and the unpredictable whims of nature is growing. While the climate causes more variation, the industry is demanding even more uniformity. On average, 15 to 20 percent of the fruit an...

Albert Heijn goes all in on B Corp brands

08 July 2026

Albert Heijn is launching the recurring "Every B-it helps" campaign alongside more than 45 well-known brands. The supermarket chain is using this initiative to boost the visibility of B Corp-certified companies both in-s...

Consumers opt for Fairtrade more often despite high cocoa prices

08 July 2026

Sales of products carrying the Fairtrade label increased by 11 percent in 2025. Dutch consumers purchased over 247 million items. As a result, farming cooperatives in Africa, Asia, and Latin America received 8.9 million ...

SMK tightens sustainability requirements further

03 July 2026

The sustainability of the Dutch food chain continues to gain momentum. In 2025, SMK tightened the requirements for several certification schemes and saw the certified acreage under On the way to PlanetProof continue to g...

Deposit return system may soon cover dairy and juice bottles

03 July 2026

Beverage, dairy, and juice producers should prepare for new deposit return rules. The Dutch government wants to update the system to increase the collection of plastic bottles and beverage cans. The proposals also affect...

15% organic farming target still a long way off

02 July 2026

Consumers generally have a positive view of organic food, and awareness continues to grow. The number of Dutch consumers who occasionally buy organic products is also increasing. However, the development of organic farmi...

Climate change reduces the nutritional value of crops

30 June 2026

Climate change is affecting more than just crop yields. The nutritional value of crops is also under pressure. In a review published in Nature, researchers from Ghent University describe how new genetic technologies can ...

New scheme supports industry decarbonization

30 June 2026

The Netherlands wants to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels. To achieve that, the Dutch government is taking another step to make investments in renewable energy more attractive. The scheme is also intended to support...

Online Edition June 2026 | Smart Construction and Energy Management

29 June 2026

Since the war in the Middle East began, energy prices have risen to unprecedented levels. To become less dependent on fossil fuels, companies are looking for alternative ways to keep their operations runn...

Column Judith Witte: Charging challenges