There was an initial call from the food industry to create an environmental labelling scheme that ‘enables consistency, meets environmental ambitions and cuts through the confusion of multiple eco-labels available’.
The Government acknowledged the need to help shoppers and businesses make more sustainable choices in 2022, when it announced it would mandate a methodology to be used by any label producer or manufacturer who wants to make environmental claims about their products.
IGD’s recommendations for an environmental label are wide-ranging and consider a product’s water, land and climate impacts in one easy-to-read, colour-banded score.
Research shows there is strong support amongst consumers for an environmental label on food and drink products. Eight in ten (81%) think it is a good idea and almost seven in ten (69%) believe it will help them make more environmentally friendly choices.
Sarah Bradbury, chief executive of IGD, said: “I am delighted to see nearly two years of rigorous research, engagement and consultation culminate in the set of recommendations we have delivered to Defra to inform its planned consultation on eco-labelling in 2024.
“Our industry has repeatedly called for a consistent approach that reduces confusion, costs and improves overall efficiency and I believe our recommendations are an important moment in delivering on this call.
“Convening our industry in the way we have to deliver these recommendations is a big step forward towards a consistent approach for environment labelling for the UK food industry, indicating the extent to which our industry has an appetite to collaborate, engage and drive positive change on this topic.”