Speciality Food Magazine -November/December 2025

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH There’s more to uncover – get the full report today specialityfoodmagazine.com/sustainablesupply 17 sustainablefoodmonth.com THEULTIMATEGUIDE TO SUSTAINABLE SUPPLY In this report, you’ll discover just how vital forward-thinking is for the future of the food and drink sector S ustainability is no longer a talking point; it’s a turning point. As the fine food and drink sector navigates mounting environmental pressures, supply chain volatility and shifting consumer expectations, sustainable practice has become the foundation of long-termsuccess. Businesses that act now are not only protecting the planet but also strengthening resilience, improving efficiency and building brand trust for the future. Created in partnershipwith Icertech, a leading innovator in temperature-controlled packaging, this report explores how the industry is responding to one of its biggest challenges and greatest opportunities. From regenerative farming and ethical sourcing to sustainable temperature-controlled packaging and responsible distribution, the insights gathered here reveal a sector inmotion: one that’s adapting fast and redefining what responsible growth looks like. Sustainability isn’t a box to tick or a one-size-fits-all solution. It’s a continuous process of innovation, collaboration and accountability. Whether it’s rethinking packagingmaterials, investing in circular systems or measuring impact through transparent reporting, the businesses leading the way are those viewing sustainability as a driver of commercial advantage, not a compliance exercise. In this report, you’ll hear fromchangemakers across the food industry, all united by a shared goal to future-proof the supply chain for generations to come. To explore the full findings, including practical tools to future-proof your business, expert resources and deeper insight into sustainable sourcing, packaging and logistics, download the complete report at specialityfoodmagazine.com/sustainablesupply. Ruth Galpine, programmes director at Soil Association clarifies the sustainable supply chain mission THE VALUE OF THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY Beth Mander, retail programme manager at Ellen Macarthur Foundation explains the concept 68% OF CONSUMERS VIEW SUSTAINABLE FOOD POSITIVELY , WITH 55% VIEWING IT AS BEING BETTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT SODEXO There ishope, and thepublicareasking for this. Thoseof us inthe speciality sector knowthat customerswill payapremium if they see value,wehaveaduty toensure that customerswill activelypay for an environmental premiumasmuchas they do for tasteor tradition SHANE HOLLAND, CHAIR OF BOROUGH MARKET The Ellen Macarthur Foundation exists to accelerate a transition to a circular economy. By that we mean enabling people to live the lives they do now, enjoying products and services, but in a way that is decoupled from depleting finite resources and polluting the world. The easy comparator is to think of today’s systems as linear. We take stuff out the ground, we make stuff with it, and then we throw it away. So it’s very wasteful. It is polluting, and it is depleting the natural environment, soil health and more. Currently, we’re working with an extractive supply chain. The people doing a lot of the work are the least compensated for it, and then that has risks compounding it because actually then there’s no resilience at that level – this means that the supply chain more broadly is at risk. As ever, it is a hugely complex system. There’s no silver bullets. But we need to start to think about investing in more sustainable circular ideas such as co-products – byproducts of food manufacturing being resources, not waste. SUSTAINABILITY DRIVERS Sustainability in supply chains is being propelled by two main forces: 1 Firstly, businesses are increasingly required to operate more sustainably and to evidence that through credible reporting. 2 Secondly, there is growing consumer awareness of what they’re eating, where it came from, and its environmental impact. In short, one driver is policy and legislation; the other is that customers and supply chain partners expect, and want, progress. Clear, explicit communication of action on sustainability is now valued and increasingly expected by brand and business customers, and in some cases required by customers and supply chain partners. Whether requested in tender applications, procurement contracts, or embedded within a sustainability strategy, this is increasingly helpful positioning for businesses in competitive markets.