Fairtrade Belgium’s Post

During the past few weeks, I had the pleasure of supporting these two important events as a media partner, as they are highly relevant to my professional field. The countdown has begun for next week when professionals from the #packaging value chain will gather in #Amsterdam to participate in these special events: ➡ November 11th The European Co-Packers Association (ECPA) will host its annual conference, dedicated to the latest trends and topics relevant to the industry. This is an ideal opportunity to find new partnerships and strengthen existing relationships.   ➡ November 12th-13th The Sustainable Packaging Summit is the leading international event dedicated to packaging in a changing context, bringing together decision-makers from across the supply chain to stay informed about industry developments, key topics, and regulatory changes, as well as discover innovative solutions and forge new collaborative relationships.   Join the international packaging value chain—including packaging suppliers, co-packers, brands, NGOs, recyclers, and regulators—on November 11th, 12th, and 13th in Amsterdam for three days of inspiring discussions and partnerships.   I look forward to seeing you there!   It’s not too late to register: ➡ European Co-Packers Association (ECPA) Conference: Just send an email to membership@ecpacopacking.com. ➡ Sustainable Packaging Summit: Check the comments for the link. Feel free to use my code ANPERL20 for a 20% discount.   #SustainablePackagingSummit Packaging Europe Ton Knipscheer

How can globalisation foster sustainability? 🌍 Olaf Deutschbein, head of UNIDO ITPO Germany’s Berlin office, emphasises that boosting productivity and sustainability hinges on innovation and knowledge exchange, especially in close collaboration with European and global firms. 💼 At #AnugaFoodTec2024, our central theme was “Responsibility: Setting the Right Course for Tomorrow,” aligning perfectly with UNIDO’s mission to advance sustainable industrial development. This entails taking responsibility for both people and the environment in production, particularly at the onset of supply chains in developing nations. By leveraging technology, we can maximise sustainability efforts to build a brighter future for the food and beverage industry. While challenges persist, organisations must continue to collaborate, support one another and pioneer innovative solutions. 💡🍽️ Read more in our #AnugaFoodTecMagazine: //bit.ly/4bsLn07 #AnugaFoodTec #AnugaFoodTec2027 #foodandbeverage

🌿Greenweez Italia: Embracing Eco-Conscious Retail🌿 Our April 9th afternoon session with the ESSEC Food Business Challenges Chair brought us to the doors of #Greenweez Italy, a company at the forefront of making sustainable living a viable choice for consumers. Since its establishment in 2008, Greenweez has made significant strides in the eco-conscious market, presenting over 170,000 organic and sustainable products. In Italy, their platform has grown to connect consumers with a range of 'bio' products, resonating with local tastes and European quality. Led by General Manager Celine Dumas of ESSEC lineage, we gained insights into the brand's innovative e-commerce roots and its rise as a key player in the realm of responsible consumption. Céline’s deep dive into #Greenweez’s operations revealed the intricacies of balancing market growth with ecological values. Francesca Rollo, alongside Céline, contributed to our understanding of Greenweez's commitment to this cause. The team's dedication is evident in their recent branding initiatives and their successful engagement in the Italian market. The discussion left us with a clearer vision of how strategic choices can lead to positive environmental impacts and how mindful purchasing can drive sustainable industry changes. Thanks to Céline Dumas and the Greenweez team for sharing their journey. We’re motivated by the collective effort to nurture a more 🌿 sustainable 🌿 future. #GreenweezItaly #SustainableRetail #ESSECAlumni #ResponsibleConsumption Written by Ayman Amail, Isabella Alberti, Khizar Syed

E-labelling is an agile, consumer-friendly, and sustainable solution that offers significant environmental benefits. Alongside eighteen other industry associations, AIM urges policymakers to develop a harmonized regulatory framework that fully integrates digital labelling. Such a framework would simplify access to product information, reduce waste, and promote innovation and traceability across the EU. This step is essential for creating a future-proof, competitive, and sustainable Single Market. #Sustainability #Innovation #DigitalTransformation #YesWeScan CEEV - Comité Vins CEVI European Confederation of Independent Winegrowers Association COSMED Cosmetics Europe - The Personal Care Association Ecommerce Europe ERPA - European Cosmetics Responsible Person Association European Travel Retail Confederation (ETRC) EuroCommerce FEDAS - European Federation of Sporting Goods Retailers FEICA Federation of the European Sporting Goods Industry FoodDrinkEurope Independent Retail Europe Serving Europe spiritsEUROPE TIE: Toy Industries of Europe NATRUE - The International Natural and Organic Cosmetics Association

Who’s looking forward to see what the next 5 years will bring? I am for sure! With the new College of Commissioners officially confirmed, the EU enters a pivotal chapter in shaping a competitive and sustainable future for Europe. At JDE Peet's, we are ready to engage with the new European Commission to drive impactful change. We believe collaboration is key to addressing shared priorities: - Ensuring a sustainable, resilient, and competitive food and beverage sector: The food and beverage sector is a cornerstone of the EU’s economy, contributing over €1.1 trillion annually and employing 4.6 million people. It plays a crucial role in achieving the EU’s sustainability and competitiveness goals. Let’s make sure this vital sector will not get overlooked in the upcoming European Commission’s Vision for Agriculture and Food and that innovation and resilience will be supported. - Aligning industrial and sustainability policies: Upcoming initiatives, like the Circular Economy Act, offer a unique opportunity to create stakeholder-driven solutions for sustainable competitiveness. At JDE Peet's we’re committed to an inclusive, sustainable and resilient coffee and tea industry through our #CommonGrounds programme. - Increasing engagement with stakeholders in the policymaking process: As a global leader in coffee and tea, we welcome the ‘new era of dialogue with stakeholders’ as announced by the Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The commitment to a deeper dialogue with stakeholders, including initiatives like the "Reality Checks" and implementation dialogues under the guidance of Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis, is a pivotal step toward more inclusive and effective policymaking, reflecting the industrial realities. 🤝 Let’s work together. Looking forward to working alongside policymakers, industry leaders, civil society partners and our trade associations to build a more resilient, sustainable and competitive future for the EU! #EuropeanCommission #EUpriorities #SustainableCompetitiveness

Are you passionate about enabling the circular economy and shifting the needle towards net zero emissions in Australia? Do you have innovative packaging solutions that can drive the wine and fresh produce sectors towards a more sustainable future? If yes, then this is your chance to carve a path to adoption and scale with the support of industry! Charles Sturt University and Wine Australia are looking for people with daring, forward thinking ideas that will challenge the status quo of packaging for wine in Australia. Winning solutions will demonstrate a high potential for positive environmental impacts whilst addressing the unique industry requirements of the wine or fresh food sectors. The challenges provide researchers, innovators and inventors with a chance to showcase innovative solutions to the sector, connect with leaders in Australian food and wine as well as Compete for a share in AUD$75K prize pool. Entries are open until 17 April and shortlisted entrants will work with solution curators to develop their pitch and will deliver their pitch at a hybrid showcase event on 6 June. To learn more and make a submission, click here: https://lnkd.in/guzFFWfP #SustainabilityInnovation #ClimateAction #GreenTech #InnovateForChange #SustainablePackaging #Packaging #NetZero #aussiewine

✨Looking back: Slovenian-Dutch Business Delegation Trade Event 🇸🇮🇳🇱 Two weeks ago, the Slovenian delegation trade event, co-organized by Slovene Dutch Business Platform - SDBP and Holland Circular Hotspot, was an incredible success! With 33 Slovenian companies and nearly 80 participants, the event featured vibrant business matchmaking and inspiring showcases from both countries, focusing on three key themes: #sustainablefood, #energy, and #circularconstruction. The event was held in BlueCity (010), a hub of circularity in Rotterdam. Freek van Eijk contributed significantly by organizing and moderating the food panel, highlighting circular practices and inspiring models. This was followed by the energetic workshop on the power of a circular economy to connect the building, food, and energy sectors, facilitated by our special envoy, Vesna Lavtizar, PhD Lavtizar.  🤝 In her opening speech, Sabine Rau-Oberhuber emphasized the importance of extending circular value chains beyond borders: "The circular economy is about creating circular value chains, and they are by definition something which stretches beyond national borders. In that respect, I'm very pleased we have this delegation here." This encapsulated one of the day’s key takeaways: the importance of collaboration. To conclude the event, the delegation visited FoodX Netherlands, which included inspiring presentations on Agrifood innovations within Foodvalley NL and a virtual reality experience of the food of the future. #circulareconomy #food #construction #energy #delegation #businessdevelopment #businessmodels #slovenia #internationalexchange Edo Sternad Franc Matjaž (Tičo) Zupančič Luka Šinkovec Leo Swart Vesna Lavtizar, PhD Freek van Eijk Marko Sladojevic Rok Sternad Johan O. Verboom Jožef Drofenik Sabine Rau-Oberhuber Lindy Hensen Igor Kos Jan Westra Leon Van der Burg

As B Lab UK month draws to a close, we wanted to share what was a crescendo for us. Last Wednesday, we welcomed close to 100 Big Thinkers into our brewery home in South London for a panel discussion on climate action and achieving Net Zero.   Co-founder Felix James represented Small Beer and was joined by an impressive trio of business owners and sustainability leaders: Emma Loisel, Co-Founder & Chair of Volcano Coffee Works Vera Bruntink, Sustainability Manager Montcalm Collection James Cadbury, Founder of H!P Chocolate | B Corp The evening was chaired by fellow Small Beer Co-Founder, James Grundy Panellists covered carbon measurement, net-zero commitments, and initiatives for supply chain de-carbonisation. They did not shy away from the ethical challenges in complex supply chains and shared practical approaches. We explored the world of carbon credits and offsetting, the complexities of sourcing ingredients across the globe - with coffee beans from Colombia, cocoa from the Congo and hops from the Czech Republic, as well as the challenge of running a sustainable hotel laundry service! It was clear, for all the brands involved, that running their business as a B Corp was simply a non-negotiable. In Emma's words, "it's a baseline from which we build upon." As a final thought from us... B Lab isn't just for one month, it's a journey that we embark on, a belief system that we adopt and framework by which we run our business 365 days a year. #Sustainability #BCorp #Business

A recent study conducted by PwC states that "sustainability issues were the most important issues facing the world" for over 60% of the 4,000 UK consumers who took part. Last week I had the pleasure of chairing a panel of three impressive business leaders and one sustainability expert at Small Beer Brew Co. for B Lab UK month. Our intention was to explore what action was being taken at the heart of UK SME's to address some of the most pressing topics regarding carbon, supply chain, ethics and where each were on their own journeys to net zero. The below shares a selection of the #sustainability #ethics #business and #netzero discussions covered on the night. We deep-dived into the challenges and chipped away at the complexities. We know these topics aren't easy, but it is inspiring to have a room-filled with individuals who share our passion for possibility and positive change within business. Think Big Drink Small.

Started the weekend with a NewBrew. The beer of PUB, Singapore's National Water Agency 🍺As a Belgian, we put the bar for beer tasting quite high… However: I love it. Great work PUB, great work. Not just the taste. But also the story. This beer is brewed from NEWater, Singapore’s own brand of ultra-clean, high-grade recycled water. For the non water technologists: it is water that has been used before. Just like many plastics have been used before. Recycling water is 100% technically possible, safe and already applied at large scale worldwide. It’s hard to believe for the wider audience. It’s not so hard to believe for water nerds. 🇸🇬🇺🇸Singapore and US, just naming two, are leaders in that space. 🇧🇪🇳🇦But did you know that Belgium is also a pioneer? Koksijde, Belgium and Windhoek, Namibia were the first in the world to recycle used water at large scale! The Torreele plant is in operation for 22 years… I still remember how in Ghent in 2015 we had brewed a beer named ‘from Sewer to Brewer’ as a stunt at International Water Association‘s first Resource Recovery Congress we organised. Also this beer was 100% brewed using the high-purity water of the Belgian water recycling facility. Haha, thinking back to it, communication is very very important and sensitive. The name or our beer was funny, but not good for wide adoption. What I learned talking to people from Singapore and the US in the reuse space is to completely break the connection with wastewater in communication. And actually get rid of the word ‘wastewater’. Use ‘Used water’ instead, and turn it into ‘Reclaimed Water’ (US) or ‘NEWater’ (SG). Just like with any technological adoption, including digitalisation, the barriers are human, and as a result political, not technological. And may I do a market prediction? The reuse market in Europe 🇪🇺in the coming decade is going to significantly grow. To make ourselves climate resilient combined with further improving our environment. I hope Belgium will again take up a leadership role in Europe, building on the experience. My bet is that also the Netherlands 🇳🇱 will be inspiring quite soon. Combined with environmental regulation, we’re going to have multi multi billion investments in treatment in Europe. Interesting investment opportunities ahead… 💧 Cheers! 🍻 #waterindustry #waterreuse