Kerry has announced a commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 33 percent by 2030 and achieve net zero before 2050. This goal was announced as part of the group’s new sustainability strategy, Beyond the Horizon.

“This is a challenging goal and will require us to deliver on our sustainability commitments to realize our vision of being our customers’ most valued partner, creating a world of sustainable nutrition,” Juan Aguiriano, head of sustainability at Kerry, tells FoodIngredientsFirst.

“We are supporting a more circular approach on plastics and waste with a target for all plastic packaging to be reusable, recyclable or compostable by 2025 and we will ensure that all our priority raw materials are sustainably sourced by the end of the decade.”

Beyond the Horizon includes ambitious sustainability targets that address key impacts by 2030 in the areas of nutrition and health, emissions, energy, circular economy, raw materials, and social impact.

These objectives include:

• Reducing operational emissions by 33 percent by 2030 reaching net zero before 2050 and reducing emission intensity of the supply chain by 30 percent by 2030.
• Ensuring that all plastic packaging will be reusable, recyclable or compostable by 2025.
• Halving food waste by 2030 and diverting all waste from landfill.
• Sustainably sourcing all priority raw materials by 2030.
• Improving diversity while continuing to foster a healthy and inclusive workplace.

Among its sustainable packaging activities, Kerry worked to remove black plastic trays from the meals within its Consumer Foods division and were first to market with an innovative new material called Evolve.

Made with recycled content, these trays are fully recyclable, detectable and recoverable within the UK recycling system.

Innova Market Insights has pegged “The Sustain Domain” as its third Top Trend for 2020.“Together, our commitments will create a world of sustainable nutrition, contributing to the ambition articulated across the UN Sustainable Development Goals to help both the planet and society thrive,” says Aguiriano.

“We understand that this is not a journey we can undertake alone, and we are committed to working with our customers to co-create and innovate for more sustainable consumer diets.”

Innova Market Insights research has indicated that 85 percent of, on average, US and UK consumers expect companies to invest in sustainability in 2019, up from 64 percent in 2018. It has pegged “The Sustain Domain” as its third Top Trend for 2020.

Kerry highlights
Kerry has recently debuted an extract technology that enables innovators to formulate with the flavor essences of citrus fruits, labeled as “natural extracts.” The technology is designed to provide an extended, “more full-bodied” finish to flavored NPD.

In consumer trends analysis, the company has observed a rising trend in meat products with cleaner, shorter labels. More consumers are actively working to eliminate unrecognizable and artificial ingredients from their diets. 

Another recent Kerry report revealed there is consumer acceptance of dry-based beverages. In the retail marketplace, dry beverages – such as powdered water enhancers, powdered instant coffee and iced tea mixes – have seen growth this year.

The company has previously highlighted that “tradition with a twist” will lead in festive beverages this winter. In response to this, it has launched a new range of beverage concepts, which include on-trend and botanical ingredients such as cardamom, cinnamon and rhubarb.