GTF’s 6 Sustainable Food Trends for 2024
As pressure mounts on every front to reduce our carbon footprint and improve the planet, this year is shaping up to be a battle against climate change and for the environment at all levels, from corporations to individuals. Here are some ways this mindset manifests itself regarding the food system…
Consumer Demand for Upcycled Foods
Armed with more information about how food waste contributes to methane production and climate change, customers are actively looking for ways to waste less food—not only in their own homes but also in the products they buy. In 2024, they will search their grocery store shelves for more upcycled food options. Products that are certified upcycled are seeing 21% year-over-year growth.
Interest in Regenerative Agriculture
Increasing demands to grow more, bigger, and perfect quality crops have been taking a toll on farmland, but farmers can’t afford to implement sustainable farming practices without increasing their prices or compromising their yields. To make this more achievable, large corporations are now starting to partner with farmers to provide support in deploying regenerative agriculture principles. As sustainable farming trickles down to the consumer level, expect to see more demand for regeneratively produced foods.
Bio-Based Materials
These materials are made from once-living organisms, which implies sustainability since they are made from renewable resources. In their most circular form, however, bio-based materials are made from upcycled side streams of other products. Examples include disposable tableware made from brewers’ spent grain, shoes made from algae, and rain ponchos made from potato starch.
Back to the Basics
Political polarization, international instability, and economic stress are all creating anxiety and the need for solace, even in the foods people buy and eat. That, combined with a focus on sustainability, will make basic comfort foods like soups and stews popular in 2024. Soup is not only a great way to use leftovers and vegetable scraps, it brings a feeling of respite to our chaotic lives.
Tell-All Mindset
Consumers and shareholders are no longer satisfied with simple platitudes about improving the environment. Companies will need to move from strategy and infrastructure to implementation and results. Customers are wary of greenwashing and are looking for authentic products and processes that address our climate and carbon problems with complete transparency. Shareholders will concentrate on scope three emissions, indirect emissions such as procurement, travel, and waste, which often account for the majority of a company’s carbon footprint. This leads us to our final trend…
A.I. for the Win
Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) will be used in everything in 2024, including measuring sustainability efforts and managing data from them. As ESG goals demand more hard data, AI will simplify and analyze the vast amounts of information generated, particularly to meet disclosure and compliance requirements.
GTF is here to help you navigate all the ins and outs of the 2024 trends and beyond.
Our 100% electric RENU™ Drying and Milling System can help you reduce food waste and achieve your ESG goals by converting side streams into nutrient-dense powders for the lucrative powder market to meet the increasing demand for upcycled foods and even for use in bioplastics.
RENU’s operating system provides real-time information to manage sustainability goals and governmental compliance. It is a tangible solution that not only helps your company become more sustainable but also improves your bottom line.