Speciality-Food-Magazine-March-2025

In partnership with Bangor University, we have calculated the environmental impact of all Icertech products through LCA.” LCA evaluates the environmental footprint of a product across its entire lifecycle, from rawmaterial extraction, production, and transportation, through to use and disposal. “For our products much of the mass and energy data was collected on-site, to provide the most accurate representation of our products footprint as possible,” they continue. This information is vital to help Icertech and other businesses move forward sustainably. “This data is crucial to allows companies to make informed, sustainable decisions about their packaging while comparing real-world data. It allows them to meet their sustainability goals, increase transparency with their customers, and gets them ahead of the ever-changing legislative curve.” The best way for consumers to recognise sustainability efforts is through third-party accreditation, such as EcoVadis, Simon and Alex suggest. “We have recently been awarded a Platinum EcoVadis rating, placing us in the top 1% of companies within our sector. “Our customers can be assured that significant consideration has been given to the sustainability of our products and practices, with our company motto ‘Packaging minimise their footprint, 2025 brings with it new technologies and solutions which mean that not only can Speciality Food readers be confident that the chilled items they purchase to sell to their discerning customers will arrive in top condition, but they won’t need to sacrifice sustainability to make that happen. Conscious clarity Icertech is one such provider, offering products which are both ecologically sound and of solid quality. They are passionate about offering clarity to their customers, including around the Green Claims Code – a practical guide developed by the UK’s Competitions and Markets Authority (CMA) to help businesses communicate their green initiatives transparently and avoid ‘greenwashing’. “As a business (and as an industry), we have a responsibility to ensure that the information we present to our customers is factual, transparent, and clear to interpret,” begin Simon Morris, sustainability and innovation manager, and Alex Jackson, sales and marketing director. “The Green Claims Code lays out six key principles that businesses must follow when making environmental claims: 1. Be truthful and accurate 2. Be clear and unambiguous 3. Avoid omitting key information 4. Ensure comparability T ransporting chilled products to their final destination safely, maintaining quality throughout the chain, is a foundational aspect of the food industry. Suppliers, retailers and consumers alike must put their trust in temperature-controlled packaging to deliver food and drink exactly as it should be, which is why operators in this sphere take their roles seriously – particularly when it comes to sustainability. With more consumers and fine food professionals than ever conscious about their impact on their environment, and keen to 26 @specialityfood 5. Back up claims with evidence 6. Consider the full lifecycle Using the Green Claims Code, we aim to provide substantiated claims using robust, science based and verifiable methods. If you see a business making environmental claims, the Green Claims Code is a great resource to reference those claims against.” In a world of countless unsubstantiated claims, and retailers and consumers having to tread carefully and with their eyes wide open when looking to source planet- friendly items, smart businesses are looking outwards to utilise tools that prove their statements can be trustworthy. “Sustainability is of growing importance to consumers, businesses and governments,” they continue. “We are now feeling the effects of climate change globally and it is important to consider how, through our own direct action, we can preserve the Earth for our future generations.” Proven validity “It can be hard to wade through the countless, unsubstantiated environmental claims, and understand how products compare,” say Simon and Alex. “That is where Life Cycle Assessment comes in, it is a method to calculate the entire environmental impact of a product and provides a provide fair comparison between products. ALEX JACKSON ICERTECH MARTIN HOLDEN-WHITE GRUBBY MATHEW MARCH-SMITH PONG CHEESE COMMENTATORS SIMON MORRIS ICERTECH The temperature-controlled packaging sector is making strides when it comes to sustainability – and retailers, producers and consumers alike are set to benefit SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS We are exploring other materials including seaweed and other renewable technologies