Europatat has signed the EU Code of Conduct for Responsible Food Business and Marketing Practices, a voluntary initiative with which the European potato trade sector commits to contribute and support the transition towards a more sustainable food system that it has already initiated.
The EU Code of Conduct for Responsible Food Business and Marketing Practices is one of the first deliverables of the EU Farm to Fork Strategy and an integral part of its action plan. It sets out common aspirations and indicative actions which actors ‘between the farm and the fork’, such as traders, food manufacturers and retailers, can voluntarily commit to tangibly improve and communicate their sustainability performance.
The Code of entered into force on 5 July 2021 setting a list of aspirational objectives as voluntary commitments for action on 7 key areas:
- Healthy, balanced and sustainable diets for all European consumers
- Prevention and reduction of food loss and waste
- A climate neutral food chain in Europe by 2050
- An optimised circular and resource-efficient food chain
- Sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment and decent work for all
- Sustainable value creation in the European food supply chain through partnership
- Sustainable sourcing in food supply chains
For each of these objectives, the Code indicates a list of indicative, tangible and measurable actions that serves as the basis for a sustainable and healthy EU food system. For the more advanced who wish to make greater commitments, the Code also includes a framework for more ambitious, measurable and individual actions.
The European potato trade sector supports the transition towards a more sustainable food system. Europatat members are already taking responsibility towards relevant EU Green Deal and Farm to Fork objectives such as the reduction of greenhouse emissions, pesticide use and plastic packaging while ensuring that no food waste is generated. The sector is also committed to promote a sustainable food consumption by providing better consumer information on origin, nutrition and ecological impact.
The “shift to a sustainable food system” does not start from scratch for our sector. Therefore, Europatat invites its members to join the EU Code to show their ambitions in terms of sustainability regardless their size or activities!
For more information about the Code, signatories and how to join the Code you can visit the European Commission’s website or contact the Europatat’s Secretariat.
