news analysis
THE FRIDAY DIGEST: The grass isn’t always greener
Let’s start this week in the US: ‘Your grass-fed burger isn’t better for the planet,’ runs a headline in The Washington Post. The article is on… Read More
Packaging 2025: more paper, more AI and more reuse
Experts predict what’s set to be hot in the packaging world this year as companies adapt to new laws, embrace technology and supply sustainable solutions.… Read More
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Out of home news
A fowl day for foodservice
Caterers, foodservice and hospitality companies enjoyed positive PR from committing to source ‘better chicken’ but none look set to meet their 2026 target. By David Burrows.… Read More
Taxes and tough regulation will reduce environmental and health impacts of food: report
The UK government should extend its sugar tax beyond soft drinks to cover all types of foods, according to a major new report led by the University… Read More
Fish finds more growth to pass poultry
Chicken has been the king of proteins in recent years but not this year: aquaculture and wild catch will “dethrone poultry” as the growth leader,… Read More
drinks news
Organic wine – consumer concerns over chemicals driving sales
Consumers are increasingly seeking out wines produced with limited amounts of chemical inputs, according to new market research. Producers are also turning to organic systems… Read More
Cheers to no-low drinks as Greene King reports record sales
Sales of low- and no-alcohol beverages rocketed last month as drinkers committed to ‘Dry/Try January’ enjoyed a greater variety of options. That’s according to Greene… Read More
grocery news
Waitrose farmers to measure biodiversity in real time
Waitrose is rolling out new technology that will allow it to gather real-time data on the environmental health of its farms. The supermarket chain has… Read More
Lidl cuts cartoons and colours from packaging on unhealthy products
Lidl is to ditch all packaging designs deemed “attractive to children” from its least healthy own-brand products by the middle of the year. The supermarket… Read More
Progress on pesticides in most major supermarket chains
The UK’s ten largest supermarkets continue to use neonicotinoids and other highly bee-toxic pesticides in their global supply chains, according to new research. PAN UK… Read More
latest footprint intelligence reports
Water stewardship and regeneration in the drinks industry; where next? in association with Coca-Cola Europacific Partners
From soft drinks to beer, water is a vital resource that powers the drinks industry. Water is already high up the sustainability agenda for businesses… Read More
Empowering choice: how and why to market higher welfare in hospitality and foodservice, in association with RSPCA Assured
Ask most hospitality and foodservice insiders what marketing they’re doing around animal welfare and most likely you’ll have a tumbleweed moment. The reality is too… Read More
The 3.2 Billion Cup Challenge: making the most of the mandatory take back scheme in foodservice settings, in association with Valpak and Reconomy.
It was in March 2016 that celebrity chef-turned campaigner Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall travelled through London in his ‘coffee cup battle bus’ to raise awareness of the 2.5… Read More
Water stewardship and regeneration in the drinks industry; where next? in association with Coca-Cola Europacific Partners
The preview for the launch of this key new report Water stewardship and regeneration in the drinks industry; where next? in association with Coca-Cola Europacific… Read More
Unlocking the community benefits of regenerative agriculture from field to fork, in association with Nestlé Professional
In 2023, Footprint published the report Is regenerative the future of farming? in partnership with Nestlé Professional UK&I, in which we explored the growing interest in regenerative agriculture.… Read More
The 2024 Footprint Sustainability Index, in association with Nestlé Professional, is now available as a free download.
This year will be remembered as one in which businesses began to make good on ambitious net-zero commitments. With much of the low-hanging fruit now… Read More
award winners’ case studies
waste2zero Awards: Elior case study
FOODPRINT REPORTING ASSISTANT Executive Summary: Elior UK developed the Foodprint Reporting Assistant (FRA), an innovative inhouse solution designed to reduce food waste across its operations.… Read More
Footprint Drinks Sustainability Awards: CMBC Case study
Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company’s (CMBC) has a range of sustainability initiatives aiming to reduce the environmental impact across key areas of its value chain: farming,… Read More
Ellers Farm Distillery – Drinks Sustainability Awards
Ellers Farm Distillery was championed as the winner of the Economic Sustainability Award. This award celebrates organisations in the foodservice industry for their sustainability and… Read More
latest footprint podcasts
Sustainability Bites in association with Nestlé Professional. Episode 4: The future of talent in hospitality & foodservice
As part of Nestlé Professional’s ‘Choose Hospitality Pledge’ we’re delighted to release the latest in the series of Sustainability Bites podcasts – Hospitality & Foodservice:… Read More
Sustainability Bites in association with Nestlé Professional. Episode 3 – Packaging: materials and substitution
Sustainability Bites, in association with Nestle Professional, is a podcast which unpicks the key sustainability issues affecting the hospitality and foodservice sector. In this episode… Read More
Sustainability Bites in association with Nestlé Professional – Episode 2: Packaging & Waste
Sustainability Bites, in association with Nestle Professional, is a podcast which unpicks the key sustainability issues affecting the hospitality and foodservice sector. This episode focuses… Read More
Sustainability Bites in association with Nestlé Professional – Episode 1: Cost of Living Crisis: Foodservice & Hospitality
Sustainability Bites is a series of podcasts featuring panel discussions between industry experts that focus on some of the key sustainability issues and topics that… Read More
Footprint40 – Professor Chris Elliott OBE
For our latest episode we were delighted to be joined by Professor Chris Elliott OBE, founder of the Institute for Global Food Security at Queen’s… Read More
Footprint40 – Professor Mike Berners-Lee
For our latest episode we were delighted to be joined by Mike Berners-Lee, the renowned writer and researcher on carbon footprinting and sustainability, and founder… Read More
comment, opinion & analysis
News of cultivated meats needs more nuance
Cultivated poultry has arrived in the UK in pet foods, but media coverage of these products still fails to discuss the long-term impacts, says Katherine… Read More
Rethinking our approach to action
Our food system is extraordinary but this cannot hide the challenges in the next five years. By Ali Morpeth and Mike Barry. The food system… Read More
Report, react and reduce
Data can help foodservice companies keep pace with reporting rules and deliver their 2030 reduction targets. By David Burrows. More than a decade-and-a-half has passed… Read More
Educating Britain one label at a time
Eco-labels are bringing transparency to the climate and nature impact of our meal choices but more data is needed to understand the effect they have… Read More
Consistency as standard – the drive to define scope 3
Moves aimed at harmonising how food and drink businesses account for value chain emissions have the potential to unlock a range of benefits. By Nick… Read More
Green claims: are we heading for a fine mess?
Fines for greenwashing could rise to eye-watering amounts under new powers for the CMA, so corporates making claims must be cautious. By David Burrows. “It’s… Read More
Can UK cultivate a market for lab meat?
Free from the EU’s complex approvals process, regulators have an opportunity to unlock the commercial and social benefits from cultivated products. But there are challenges… Read More
The future of food – will the regulatory regime keep up?
How food is produced, supplied and consumed is changing globally. DWF’s Anne Marie Taylor, Director, and Georgia Taylor, Regulatory Consultant, look at the range of these… Read More
waste
Bitter battle ahead in final plastics treaty talks
Negotiations on a global deal to end plastic pollution continue to sidestep the production of plastics. David Burrows reports. “How did you go bankrupt?” Bill… Read More
Briefing: Wrap’s ‘next generation’ packaging pact
Can a new industry agreement to tackle plastic prevent another five years of poor performance? By David Burrows. Wrap’s future plastic pact plans. The environmental charity… Read More
Straight to the (data) point
Straight to the (data) point
This week’s frontline figures take in growing demand for plant-based meals among workplace diners, the Bottle Weight Accord driving the reduction of bottle weight in… Read More
health & vitality
Health & Nutrition Elite Honoured
Health and nutrition returned to the limelight today as the awards were presented for the 2023 Health & Vitality Honours. After a pandemic induced hiatus… Read More
The 2023 Health & Vitality Roll of Honours is announced
The initiatives demonstrated in 2023’s Health & Vitality Honours programme have highlighted that health, nutrition and wellbeing in the industry is back on the agenda… Read More
Poorest priced out of healthy food
A new report has called for urgent change in the UK’s food policies to reverse a growing crisis of affordability and accessibility. Nick Hughes reports.… Read More
political print
POLITICAL PRINT: Producers pay the price for broken system
Defra’s decision to suddenly shut its sustainable farming scheme exposes a number of hard truths about fixing our broken food system. By David Burrows. On… Read More
Political Print: Labour needs allies to deliver meaningful reform
Repairing relationships with farmers and businesses, whilst putting the UK on a path to food security and nature recovery, will require the kind of political… Read More
footprint event reports
Tread carefully along the thin green line
New rules relating to making green claims are confusing, which is bad news for food companies and good news for lawyers. David Burrows reports. “Green,… Read More
Footprint Forum report: Getting into the weeds of ‘regen ag’
Speakers at a recent Footprint Forum were excited about the potential to transform farming through regenerative practices but challenges remain around financing and the risk… Read More
Responsible Business Recovery Forum Report: Operational delivery & supply chain responsibility
Operational delivery and supply chain responsibility – 9th July 2020 Speakers: David Read, chairman, Prestige Purchasing Julian Hunt, VP public affairs and communications, Coca-Cola European… Read More
Footprint video
Events photo galleries
Gallery: The 2024 waste2zero Awards
The 2024 waste2zero awards that recognise excellence in Waste Management and Prevention in the out of home food and drink sector, were presented at an exclusive… Read More
Gallery: The 2024 Drinks Sustainability Awards
Leaders from across the drinks industry were at the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) in London’s Portland Place as businesses came together to recognise… Read More
Gallery: Footprint Awards 2024
Presentation of the 2024 awards took place at the annual Footprint Awards dinner, held at the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) on Thursday 13th… Read More
interviews with foodservice and grocery sector professionals
Interview: Plant push needs reality check
Alternative proteins have potential, but they aren’t a free pass to sustainable consumption, according to Aramark head of ESG, Gina Camfield. By David Burrows. “When… Read More
Solving the culture and data challenge
Creating a sustainability-focussed culture and getting credible data to reduce menu impacts are two urgent challenges for HaFS businesses. Amy Fetzer chews over potential solutions… Read More
INTERVIEW: A new dawn for foodservice finance?
Compass Group’s sustainability lead Amy Keister tells Nick Hughes how the caterer will use proceeds from the sector’s first sustainable bonds to turbocharge its net-zero… Read More
innovation marketplace
Levy Appoints Dr Vincent Walsh as new Director of Decarbonisation
Levy UK + Ireland, the sports and hospitality sector of Compass Group UK and Ireland, is delighted to announce Dr Vincent Walsh’s appointment as Director… Read More
Incentives and accessibility key to boosting recycling rates
University of Strathclyde students surveyed as part of innovative recycling campaign A series of interventions at the University of Strathclyde have highlighted key factors that… Read More
New Chapter for apetito as it Enters Period of Investment and Growth:Ian Stone Takes Up CEO Role of apetito UK
apetito UK is pleased to announce that Ian Stone has officially assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer, succeeding Paul Freeston who stepped down at… Read More