Global specialty oils and fats supplier Bunge Loders Croklaan is expanding its organic portfolio in Europe in response to increased demand for organic and sustainable oils and fats. 

The growing portfolio offers a steady and scalable supply of organic oils and fats, ranging from sunflower, rapeseed and soy to palm, shea and coconut.

“Food companies increasingly view ‘organic’ as an expression of transparency and being closer to nature – messages that strongly resonate among the growing community of conscious consumers,” says Marcel Henneman, director of product management EMEA for Bunge Loders Croklaan. 

Breaking down barriers
Food brands attuned to their consumers’ needs are avidly striving to align their products with sustainability values, including an increasing demand for organic products, according to the company. 

Bunge Loders Croklaan is also broadening its selec network of organic farmers to increase the reliability of products, making organic status more attainable to food companies. 

“To achieve an organic label status, food manufacturers are required, not only to ensure the ingredients in their products are sourced organically, but also that the manufacturing processes employed are certified organic,” says Henneman.

Rise in certain organic oils
An Innova Market Insights report from last October revealed an increased demand for organic oils and fats. The market researcher tracked a rise in the percentage of launches with an organic claim for sunflower oil, rapeseed oil and sesame oil, compared to every year since 2017. 

Innova Market Insights also found a substantial price difference between organic and non-organic varieties, averaging price per liter across 2015 to September 2020. 

Notably, a liter of non-organic sunflower oil was valued at a mean value of US$3.56 compared to its organic counterpart at US$9.22. 

Europe’s backing for organic
New regulation is driving innovation in the organic space. The company notes that European Commission (EC) has sharpened its actions on the Green Deal’s “Farm to Fork” strategy to move Europe into a more healthy and sustainable food system. 

The EC has specified a target of seeing 25 percent of total farmland dedicated to organic agriculture by 2030.

In other organic regulation, stricter requirements for organic flavor formulation in the EU came into effect at the beginning of this year. 

Tailor-made organic
Helping to meet customers’ specific organic aspirations, the company offers tailor-made solutions from scratch or reformulation. 

“We deliver organic quality for both primary lipid sources and more specialty lipids, such as lecithins and fat formulations for infant nutrition, confectionery, bakery, culinary and plant-based,” explains Feike Swennenhuis, marketing director Europe for Bunge Loders Croklaan. 

“We will continue to extend the options of customized organic solutions for a comprehensive range of food applications.” 

Moves in oils and fats
Last December, Bunge Loders Croklaan launched Karibon, a 100 percent shea-based premium cocoa butter equivalent hailed as a “breakthrough” by the company.

Closely following Karbion’s launch, the company received a “no questions” letter from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in response to its Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) notification for its latest shea ingredient.