Sustainable sourcing is a business obligation
TATE & LYLE PLC
Sustainable sourcing is a business obligation
Tate & Lyle ’ s Director of Sustainability Anna Pierce on partnering to drive positive impact through support for regenerative agriculture
Why is responsible ingredient sourcing so important for food and drink businesses ? As companies assess and start reporting on their carbon footprint , they realise that most of their emissions come from their supply chain . That presents a real challenge , even for leading industry players : how to mitigate climate change outside of their factory gates , and how to access reliable data and insights to inform business decisions and satisfy stakeholders , today and tomorrow .
All companies need to provide a level of transparency and Tate & Lyle knows this trend , alongside its associated complex and ever-changing requirements , is here to stay . The company believes that ingredient suppliers have a special opportunity to help producers with impact visibility , such as product carbon footprint data , and to support the cultivation of sustainably grown raw materials for what later become the food products that we see on the shelf .
First step : understanding individual and shared goals While demonstrating positive environmental impact is expected by governing bodies and investors , businesses increasingly want to share their sustainability progress as a matter of reputational differentiation and overall commitment to responsible sourcing , operations , innovation and growth .
Tate & Lyle ’ s Director of Sustainability Anna Pierce advocates a united process for moving forward .
“ Tate & Lyle connects farmers , who are ultimately the suppliers of all our food and drink , and consumer goods companies that are working to formulate sustainability programmes and collective goals to drive real change ,” says Pierce .
“ Our role is to work with farmers to understand which agricultural practice changes will make the biggest impact environmentally while providing a more positive return on their investment so that everyone moves forward collectively .”
32 June 2023