Sustainability

Comment

Comment by Jeffrey Michael Bond on November 6, 2009 at 9:31am

Yes, I believe that the progression as well will be to pick off the low bearing fruit such as packaging and manufacturing processes but as time goes on the focus will shift to the ingredients as they are nearly half if not more of the inputs for a product. Some companies are already in the lead with respect to this including some that are U.S. based and others that are major players in the U.K. From an industry standpoint this will only make sense, from a marketing standpoint this will be one of the next claims to be used. The challenge will be to put it into a version that the general public can understand and relate to. Everyone understands recycling, but trans fatty acids or omega 3's are more difficult to truly understand and in general I think the public associates the trans fats with bad and omega 3's with good but don't really know why but there has been some superior marketing behind them to get them known this way. It has become understood as well that a stamp of approval from the Marine Stewardship Council is good, few would also know why. The same principles will apply to carbon footprinting. We can all assume that by reducing the environmental impact on the atmosphere to reduce the potential impact of global warming is a good thing. How the general public gets informed, educated and the thought becomes part of their behaviour is not known to me at least and more so is a long term plan as behaviours do not change overnight.

Comment by John Adams on November 6, 2009 at 4:40am

Sustainability should be a natural progression of business models for the future. New Product Development should certainly be focussed on sustainability, it is no good developing products that are heavy uses of natural resources that can not be replaced. I suggest you look to what is happening globally as some countries are more developed in their thinking

Comment by Will Henry on November 3, 2009 at 2:11pm

Jeffrey, Some clients are looking at manufacturing practices only. We do, however, have a few clients that have developed strategies which encompass their entire business model in an effort to reduce their carbon footprint. As well, we have learned that certain wholesalers are beginning to ask for a 'Carbon Contribution' value to be assigned to their product..for display and reference purposes initially.

Comment by Jeffrey Michael Bond on November 3, 2009 at 1:59pm

Sorry for taking so long to get back to you, I think I was on holidays when your response came through. Just a curious question, are these clients or customers looking at reducing the carbon footprint of their products through packaging or manufacturing practices or has it migrated further back through the supply chain.

Comment by Will Henry on August 18, 2009 at 10:53am

In reply to Jeffrey Bond, that answer is Yes. We have had discussions with multiple clients in regards to reducing their Carbon Footprint.

Comment by Jeffrey Michael Bond on May 6, 2009 at 4:00pm

I have heard that some retailers have stated to supply groups outside of pet food that they must reduce the carbon footprint of the products or else they will not carry them. Anyone else seeing or hearing of this in this industry?