In a world already grappling with climate disruption, high rates of malnutrition and obesity and food waste, sustainability is no longer just a corporate responsibility, it is a business imperative one that will impact the lives of future generations. As a parent of two young children, Daniel Campion wants his kids to have the freedom to live well in a healthy environment.
The science is clear: to avoid the most catastrophic effects of climate change, we must limit global warming to 1.5°C. Yet, 2024 marked the first year we crossed that threshold. The unnatural consequences have been significant: floods, fires, heatwaves and droughts totalling an estimated US$200 billion in damages. And this is only the beginning. If we don’t take action, the fallout could be much worse.
We are currently tracking toward 2.7°C of warming. This doesn’t just mean more frequent storms or longer droughts. The economic and social effects multiply. As Swedish scientist Johan Rockström notes, the world could see an annual loss of 18% in global GDP or an estimate US$38 trillion.
The Real Threat: Business as Usual
Businesses around the world are already feeling the effects. Crop yields and availability will be affected by changing weather patterns. Every 1°C rise in temperature can cut wheat production by up to 10%. Supply of cocoa, coffee, and citrus are already under pressure due to climate stress and disease. Delaying action won’t just cost more later, it will leave fewer options open.
Governments, facing mounting recovery costs and challenges to achieve their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) to reduce climate change, are responding with reduced fossil fuel subsidies, carbon taxes, sugar regulations, and tighter restrictions on deforestation. On top of that, brand reputational risks are rising fast. Today, with greater transparency and education, and ESG reporting becoming mandatory in more countries, brands that don’t walk the talk are facing scrutiny from investors and consumers alike.
From Risk to Responsibility and Competitive Advantage
The effects of climate change don’t all point to risk and cost. Rather, it can be seen as an opportunity for long-term resilience.
Recent insights from PwC reveal that 37% of companies reporting to CDP increased their climate commitments last year. A factor for this could be that sustainable brands are growing 2.3 times faster than those without sustainability claims. In Europe, they now hold 36% market share. Consumers, particularly the younger generation, expect more. They want purpose, transparency, and consistency. And smaller, more agile competitors are using sustainability as a differentiator to gain ground.
The Food System: Part of the Problem and the Solution
The food system contributes significantly to climate change. A Nature Climate Change study revealed that the food system alone could alone push us past the 1.5°C threshold.
Kerry is helping to drive the transformation for the food system of the future. As a leading taste and nutrition company, Kerry partners with customers to create a world of sustainable nutrition. Through leading consumer insights, an RD&A team of over 1,200 food scientists, and an extensive global footprint, Kerry helps customers turn complex challenges into opportunity.
This vision is anchored in three commitments. Through science-backed solutions, Kerry is focused on delivering better nutrition for people without compromising on taste, sustainability targets, or affordability. Kerry is working to create a more inclusive and ethical supply chain that benefits everyone involved. And Kerry is pushing to reduce environmental impact across every part of the value chain, from farm to fork.
Kerry’s top five double materiality topics are climate change, consumer health, upstream human rights, biodiversity & ecosystems, and food waste. The Beyond the Horizon sustainability commitments address each of these topics. For example, Kerry’s 1.5°C aligned SBTi FLAG targets under validation will mean a lower footprint is passed on to customers.
Kerry has helped brands reduce sugar content using its Tastesense technology to create more nutritious products that retain great taste. Every kilogramme of sugar requires 600–1,000 litres of water to produce. In APMEA in 2024, by reducing sugar in customer supply chains and the associated overall water saving, backed by Tastesense LCA, Kerry estimates it saved approximately 15 times the water used in its factories in the same year.
When it comes to food consumption, approximately 30% of food worldwide is lost or wasted. Kerry’s preservation and fermentation innovations help extend shelf life and avoid food going to waste, while also improving texture and food safety. Kerry’s Food Waste Estimator helps businesses measure the benefits of shelf life extension and build advocacy for action.
Kerry is also tackling cocoa dependency. With record-high prices and shrinking supply due to climate and disease, Kerry has developed flavour systems that can help reduce cocoa powder use and with it, cut carbon footprint by 10 to 30%, without compromising the flavours people love.
Think Big, Start Small, Act Now
While it is important to drive change from within companies, we can also drive change in our lives and at home. According to Project Drawdown, a leading resource for climate solutions, individual and household actions could account for up to 30% of the emissions reductions needed to avoid the worst impacts of climate change. That’s huge!
Every one of us is part of the system. The food we buy, the energy we use, how we travel, the waste we generate, it all adds up. And when we act together, the impact compounds. Choose lower-impact foods. Support sustainable brands. Waste less. We can be part of the solution.
Not too long ago, Daniel had a personal reminder of why the work he does matters.
He spent time diving off the Gili Islands in Indonesia. Beneath the waves, he swam with hawksbill and green turtles and saw coral nurseries slowly bringing life back to the reef. It was beautiful. But he was also struck by how fragile it all felt.
Daniel wants his children to be able to see these reefs one day. He wants them to know that we made choices to protect their freedoms the freedom to dive these same waters, the freedom not to have to pay for, or suffer, a crisis that others have created.
For the F&B industry, sustainable nutrition is becoming the foundation for long-term business growth, competitiveness, resilience, and global relevance. Every decision we make determines the future we leave behind.
Let’s think big, start small and act now to secure the freedom for future generations, and leave a legacy we can be proud of.
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