Baking & Snack - December 2018 - 51

FORMULATION
Sustainable Sourcing

telling the
The longevity of many critical ingredients like chocolate depends on the efforts of bakers.
by Donna Berry

Today's consumers are increasingly concerned with
how their food is sourced. They want assurance that
the manufacturing supply chain produces food without compromising future generations' ability to do the
same. Sourcing ingredients from suppliers with sustainable agricultural practices is one way bakers can
tell a sustainability story, and it's one a growing number
of consumers wants to hear.
Organic and sustainable options are both considerations in consumer values and the motivation behind
their purchases. However, it's important to remember
that sustainable and organic are not one and the same.
Organic certification addresses some of the issues that
come into play with sustainable agriculture, but there are
no strict rules to ensure that organic farmers and manufacturers follow eco-minded practices.
When shopping for foods and beverages, 29% of
adults surveyed by the International Food Information
Council Foundation (IFIC) for its 2018 Food and Health
Survey indicated they buy products labeled organic, up
from 25% in 2017. Sustainability in food production also
loomed larger in 2018, with 59% of consumers saying it's
important that the foods they purchase be produced in a
sustainable way, jumping up from 50% in 2017.
Additionally, the two foremost individual factors
of sustainability increased significantly. One-third of
respondents said reducing pesticides was their top

priority, up from 27% in 2017, while ensuring an affordable food supply increased to 16% in 2018 from
10% the previous year.

A complicated supply chain

Global suppliers are
creating sustainable supply chains that protect
cocoa farmers and the
ingredients they source.
©kaiskynet - stock.adobe.com

Sustainable ingredient sourcing may seem convoluted
for many bakers because so many base ingredients, especially for large industrial operations, are commodities. Procurement of wheat flour, butter and sugar, for
example, typically all comes down to cost.
Trends such as clean label and nutrition profile are
influencing formulation. For many bakers, these drivers tend to be more relevant to today's target audience.
Forward-thinking bakers, however, recognize how all
these variables merge together and when part of a sustainability business philosophy may help grow sales.
This is because most consumers are aware of sustainability as a term, and many are doing their homework
when they shop for their household. People's attitudes,
depth of knowledge and engagement may differ, but, in
general they want to know more in order to align themselves with brands and products that are applying resources to developing a more sustainable supply chain.
That's how companies may gain a competitive edge.
Knowing a business is mindful of its impact on the
environment and society can sway a purchase. Data
from research firm NMI showed that 58% of consumers

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Baking & Snack - December 2018

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