By Dr. David Nickell, Vice President of Sustainability & Business Solutions, and Ryan Hines, Digital Marketing & PR Manager
In today's rapidly changing business landscape, Chief Sustainability Officers (CSOs) are at the forefront of driving sustainable business practices within their organizations. However, several pervasive myths in the food and agriculture space can cloud judgment and hinder effective decision-making.
Here we aim to debunk four common myths that CSOs often encounter, providing clarity and actionable insights to enhance sustainability strategies. By dispelling these misconceptions, CSOs can better navigate the complexities of sustainability and lead their organizations towards a more sustainable and profitable future.
Gone are the days when sustainability was seen merely as an expense. Today, it represents a strategic business investment with the potential for significant returns. A report by CDP found that companies with strong environmental performance achieve an 18% higher return on investment than their peers. Much of this stems from greater efficiency, higher margins, lower financing costs and new revenue opportunities.
For example, companies like Unilever have reported annual savings of over €300 million through their sustainable living plan. In farming, sustainability and efficiency go hand in hand. And US-based Smithfield Foods achieved a 13% reduction in its carbon footprint by identifying and implementing production efficiencies.
In the food sector, companies are using their environmental footprints to secure sustainable financing to fuel their expansion and growth. In Ecuador, Grupo Almar used its sustainability credentials in part to secure funding for forward integration of its operations.
Canada’s Maple Leaf Foods benefited from their internal sustainability improvements to access a $ 2.4bn sustainability-linked credit facility. In Brazil, IFC (World Bank Group) has implemented emissions monitoring of its investments in the dairy supply chain, while in Indonesia, Japfa issued a $350 million sustainability-linked bond for improving water recycling in their poultry facilities.
A robust and credible Carbon Value Program is key to turning productivity gains and subsequent carbon reduction into a source of revenue.
Downstream players are seeking credible programs to deliver on Scope 3 emission targets at minimal cost. An early adopter of emissions reduction targets approved by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), US-based Tyson Foods began monetizing their carbon credits to capture value from sustainability improvements in their beef operations that benefit downstream companies.
A robust and credible Carbon Value Program is key to turning productivity gains and subsequent carbon reduction into a source of revenue. In addition, ecolabels offer brand owners a way to attract sustainability-minded consumers and command higher premiums and strengthen brand preference. Both options enable companies to tap into new sources of business value.
Tip: begin with a pilot project to demonstrate the financial viability of sustainability initiatives. Use the results to build a business case for larger-scale adoption.
In today's digital age, environmental foot-printing no longer requires extensive time and effort. Innovative software solutions allow you to calculate, track and improve your environmental footprint with ease.
While conventional life cycle assessment (LCA) typically involves consultants running lengthy, bespoke and costly studies, Sustell™ is a secure, cloud-based and scalable data-linked, platform that reduces the time to fully map your environmental footprint from weeks to minutes.
It offers companies the opportunity to in-house LCA capabilities at significant cost savings while providing unlimited ability to run detailed foot-printing diagnostics and gain from the insights revealed.
Sustell™ delivers ISO-certified full environmental footprints compliant with leading life cycle assessment (LCA) methodologies that are kept updated and aligned with reporting compliance.
The real-time insights from Sustell™ enable you to make data-driven decisions, set ambitious targets, and transparently communicate your progress to stakeholders.
Tip: Download our guide to getting started with Life Cycle Assessment.
Life cycle assessment is often perceived as a complex and resource-intensive process. However, Sustell™ demonstrates that LCA can be scalable and accessible for businesses of all sizes.
The platform connects various data sources, including GFLI, AFP feed ingredient databases and feed formulation software systems, enabling automated footprint calculations and assessments in a user-friendly and scalable manner.
Sustell™ users can generate transparent and actionable insights, making it easier to measure and manage their environmental impacts across multiple feed recipes, farms and processing operations. Through its partner network, Sustell™ reaches along the value chain to help deliver environmental footprints at batch or SKU level.
Tip: Investigate the SustellTM solution for your industry.
In today's digital age, environmental footprinting no longer requires extensive time and effort. Innovative software solutions allow you to calculate and track your environmental footprint with ease using your primary data sources.
By connecting to feed least cost formulation (LCF) software tools including Bestmix, Datacor, and Allix, as well as farm data systems, Sustell™ delivers environmental footprints at the press of a button.
Based on your own primary data, you can quickly gain insights into your full LCA environmental footprint and deep dive into the drivers that have an influence and run multiple scenarios to build improvement plans.
Tip: Ask your LCF provider on how to get started with Sustell™ environmental footprinting or contact us to learn more.
By understanding and addressing a few common misconceptions about sustainability, CSOs can develop more effective sustainability business strategies, foster a culture of environmental responsibility, and lead their organizations towards a more sustainable future.
In reality, sustainability empowers organizations across the farm-to-fork value chain to unlock unparalleled business opportunities.
Together, we can create a positive impact on our planet and ensure a better future for generations to come.
16 June 2025
