More and more businesses are setting themselves sustainability targets with updates that are published on top of financial results.
In the US, Smithfield has invested significant amounts to ensure that it protects the environment, working on numerous projects at the same time, often with energy suppliers, showing that collaboration may be the way forward on this issue.
Some businesses are just taking their first steps. Charoen Pokphand Foods in Thailand has just launched green packaging for its meat range and has introduced welfare standards for its duck meat production.
Charoen Pokphand isn’t the only meat business to invest in environmentally sustainable packaging, Irish beef processor ABP also introduced it earlier this year to much acclaim.
As well as being good for the environment, some have realised that as well as being good for the environment, sustainably produced meat is a good story to sell to consumers. Earlier this month, Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales (HCC) launched a £250,000 marketing campaign to highlight how its lamb and beef is produced.
Speaking at its annual conference, chairman Kevin Roberts said the campaign aims to show that beef and lamb produced the ‘Welsh Way’ can be a positive choice for environmentally-conscious consumers.
It isn’t the only levy board to try this. Quality Meat Scotland’s (QMS) recently ran a campaign to raise awareness of the quality and provenance of Scotch Beef PGI, Scotch Lamb PGI and Specially Selected Pork, and claimed it “produced impressive results”.
In Ireland, food board, Bord Bia also discussed at length the importance of showcasing sustainable meat production.
These businesses and bodies have realised that saving the planet can be profitable too, and it won't be long before more processors join them in this endeavour.
Global Meat News will be hosting a webinar on sustainability within the meat industry on 3 March 2020. For commercial opportunities associated with this webinar, contact Aline Henderson on aline.henderson@wrbm.com.