Sustainability / Environment

Mind Blown at UCR

©The Plant-Based Seafood Co.

Mind Blown Seafood Launches Plant-Based Crab Cakes at University of California

Alt-seafood startup The Plant-Based Seafood Co. announces its Mind Blown Crab Cakes are now available at the University of California, Riverside campus.  University debut The Crab Cakes are currently being served in three campus locations, including Glasgow Dining, Lothian Dining, and The Barn. To celebrate the event, members of Mindblown’s team was onsite to meet and greet UCR students.  This launch reportedly marks the brand’s first appearance in campus dining. According to MindBlown, the UCR Dining Services Team has a long history of providing students, faculty and staff with nutritious food and welcoming service, with a focus on sustainable cuisine.  Recently, MindBlown’s plant-based Crab Cakes gained US national distribution through Sysco US Foods, Webstaurant.com,  GTFO It’s Vegan and Fancy Foods. The latest addition to the …

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Ecotone becomes top-scoring global food B Corp

CEO Christophe Barnouin. © Ecotone

Ecotone Becomes World’s Top-Scoring Global Food B Corp, Releases Sustainability Report

Ecotone, a European supplier of plant-based, organic, and Fairtrade foods, has become the world’s top-scoring global food B Corp following re-certification. It comes as the company releases an ambitious new sustainability report. Ecotone’s B Corp score has risen from 91.7 in 2019 to 116.5 in 2022, with turnover also growing 12% over this period. 80 is the minimum score required for B Corp certification, and the average assessment score is just 50.9. Sustainability report Ecotone operates a range of mission-driven brands, including Bjorg, Bonneterre, Alter Eco, Clipper Teas, Whole Earth, and more. The company’s recently released sustainability report reveals that 96% of the company’s turnover is now from plant-based products, while 79% of products are organic. Due to its use of renewable energy, Ecotone has …

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Certification on Product Label

© SCS Global Services

SCS Global Launches New Plant-Based Certification to Support Transparency in Labeling

SCS Global Services, a leader in third-party certification, announces the launch of its Plant-Based Certification Program. The program, built around a new standard from the nonprofit development body SCS Standards, seeks to help consumers make better-informed choices by distinguishing plant-based brands through rigorous auditing, testing and labeling requirements.  Certification under the new SCS-109 Standard confirms that products do not contain any animal-derived inputs; products eligible to receive certification include food, beverages, CBD, and body care products.  According to the standard, products for human and animal consumption must contain a minimum of 95% plant-based ingredients, while other items, such as body care products, must contain a minimum of 50% plant-derived ingredients.  SCS states that the certification’s audit mechanisms, procedures, and quality systems are aligned with its …

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MeliBio Naryan Plant-Based Honey

©MeliBio/ Naryan Foods

MeliBio Raises $2.2M and Partners with Narayan Foods to Bring Plant-Based Honey to European Market

MeliBio, the world’s first company creating real honey without bees, announces it has raised an additional $2.2M in investments and is partnering with Narayan Foods, an organic foods leader, to launch its products in 75,000 European stores. Through the first-of-its-kind partnership, Narayan will sell MeliBio’s plant-based honey under the Better Foodie brand, with the first products shipping out in early 2023.  According to MeliBio, retailers throughout Europe have shown strong demand for the honey, which will also be available for private label opportunities, using MeliBio’s technology and Narayan Foods’ operational capabilities. “As a food innovation platform, Narayan Foods is constantly on the lookout for novel sustainable products that would revolutionize the market,” said Mario Brumat, founder and CEO of Narayan Foods. “Just by tasting MeliBio’s …

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Handtmann show to shopper

© Albert Handtmann Maschinenfabrik GmbH & Co. KG

German Manufacturer Handtmann Upcycles Trade Fair Banners Into Shopping Bags

The family-owned company Handtmann, of Biberach, Germany, says it has been committed to developing alternatives in food processing and resource-conserving product concepts for over two decades. This includes hybrid, vegan and vegetarian products. Handtmann regularly exhibits its machine solutions and food concepts at numerous events and trade fairs. The company explains how it has upcycled its trade fair banners as part of its sustainability strategy; the Handtmann “FROM SHOW TO SHOPPER” project converts the trade fair banners into shopping bags in an upcycling process developed by RECICLAGE, a textiles company specialising in this field. The manufacturer produces its handmade products at its headquarters in Alzenau. “Our mission is to create unique one-of-a-kind items from recycled materials and to thus ensure a responsible use of resources,” …

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Vegan Smoked Salmon

©Save Da Sea

Canada’s Save Da Sea Plans US Launch in 2023, Reports Tripled YOY Revenues

Canadian alt-seafood brand Save Da Sea is working towards a US launch in spring 2023, reveals founder and CEO Aki Kaltenbach, and says its revenues in the Canadian market are tripling year-over-year, reports The Globe and Mail.  Based in Victoria, British Columbia, Save Da Sea produces plant-based seafood alternatives to salmon and tuna from whole-food, minimally processed ingredients. Its current range includes carrot-based smoked salmon and jackfruit tuna salad, made without soy, gluten or artificial additives. In September, the brand launched into 180 Sobeys and Safeway stores across Canada.  Since its debut in 2020, the company has experienced strong growth and Kaltenbach says she is now exploring a US launch sometime in spring 2023.  Her initial strategy is to concentrate on natural foods retailers in …

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L'Osteria Vegan Tuna

©L'Osteria

BettaF!sh to Debut Plant-Based TU-NAH at All 157 L’Osteria Restaurants

Alt-seafood brand BettaF!sh announces its plant-based TU-NAH will launch at all 157 locations of international restaurant chain L’Osteria. From December to February 2023, TU-NAH will be available as a menu option on two pizza and pasta dishes, as well as a special ravioli entree being introduced for Veganuary.  Starting in December, TU-NAH can be ordered for dine-in or takeaway at L’Osteria restaurants in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, England and the Czech Republic. Customers can enjoy the vegan tuna on one of the chain’s 45-cm pizzas or paired with fresh Maccheroncini from its in-house pasta factory.  “Every guest is welcome in our restaurants,” says John Schlüter, Vice President Marketing & Communications of L’Osteria SE. “So for us, this means we want to offer …

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Unilever Dairy Proteins

©Unilever

Unilever May Launch Its First Animal-Free Dairy Ice Cream in 2023

Multinational food giant Unilever reveals it is currently using precision fermentation techniques to develop its first animal-free dairy ice cream. The company might launch its first precision-fermented ice cream product sometime next year, reports Bloomberg.  Unilever is the world’s largest ice cream manufacturer and owns top-selling brands like Ben & Jerry’s, Breyers, Magnum, and Klondike.  Andy Sztehlo, Unilever’s head of research and development, says the company is working with several startups on animal-free versions of its ice cream, and if successful, would likely launch fermented dairy proteins in one of its major brands in 2023. He also noted he had recently tasted prototypes.  The entry into animal-free dairy is part of Unilever’s environmental stategy, which seeks to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions produced by its …

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Elysabeth Cop 27

Image courtesy Elysabeth Alfano

A Call for Impact Investing in a Sustainable Food System at COP27

Last Thursday, Elysabeth Alfano, CEO of VegTech™ Invest and Plant Powered Consulting, gave a press conference titled Impact Investing for a Sustainable Food System at the COP27 summit, alongside Raphael Podselver, Director of UN Affairs for ProVeg International. An invited speaker to the Food4Climate Pavilion, Elysabeth attended the second week of the summit to discuss the role of finance and investing in helping to solve some of the world’s most pressing issues. “Public companies and markets, as well as venture start-ups and investors, must step up to the plate for action in developing more sustainable food systems, investment in existing and novel alternative proteins and Plant-based Innovation and immediate work towards supply chain transparency,” Alfano stated. A Boston Consulting Group (BCG) study carried out in …

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Stirling University student's union goes plant-based

© Animal Rebellion

Scotland’s Stirling University Votes to Make Students’ Union 100% Plant-Based

Students at Scotland’s Stirling University have voted to make all the meals offered at their Students’ Union (SU) plant-based by 2025. The vote was inspired by the Plant Based Universities campaign, which calls for higher education institutes to remove animal products from their menus to improve sustainability. The campaign is supported by Animal Rebellion, an Extinction Rebellion offshoot with a focus on ending animal agriculture. By the next academic year, 50% of options at Stirling’s three SU food outlets will be plant-based, with this figure rising to 100% by 2025. According to the SU website, moving towards plant-based diets is a “necessary step” in improving the sustainability of the food system. University food outlets outside the SU will not be affected. Universities go plant-based While …

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ASM Plant-Based Snacks/ Appetizers

©ASM Global

ASM Global Partners with Wicked Kitchen to Bring Plant-Based Menu to Hundreds of Live Venues

ASM Global, a leader in venue management and live entertainment, announces a multi-year partnership with plant-based food provider Wicked Kitchen to increase vegan food options across its network of arenas, stadiums, theaters and convention centers.  With this strategic partnership, ASM says it is poised to become a sustainability leader within the global entertainment and convention industry.  The partnership establishes Wicked Kitchen as ASM’s “Preferred Plant-Based Food Partner” and “Exclusive Plant-Based Food Provider” across all catering, suite and concessions managed by SAVOR, the company’s culinary division. Featured menu items will include a diverse selection of appetizers, sandwiches, sausages, burgers, pizzas, pastas, main dishes and ice cream, all 100% plant-based.  “We’re proud to be a part of the solution for ASM Global’s large-scale venues to meet their sustainability …

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Canadian Partners Launch Alt Seafood

Representatives from Konscious, Merit and Canadian Pacifico Seaweeds ©Protein Industries Canada

Canada: Industry Partners Invest $15.3M to Develop New Line of Alt-Seafood Products

Canada’s Konscious Foods, Merit Functional Foods and Canadian Pacifico Seaweeds announce a new partnership to develop an extensive line of plant-based seafood alternatives. Created with a co-investment from Protein Industries Canada (PIC), the line will bring more than 20 sustainably sourced alt-seafood products to North American grocery stores.  A total of $15.3M has been committed to the project, including a $5.5M contribution from PIC. That investment reportedly acted as a catalyst for the innovative partnership, and allowed the project to move at a faster, more efficient pace. The new products will reportedly match the taste and texture of traditional seafood with a focus on clean-label ingredients. To create the line, plant-based seafood brand Konscious Foods will incorporate Canadian-grown and -processed ingredients, including Merit’s pea and …

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Pearlita Plant-Based Oysters

©Pearlita

Pearlita Holds First Tasting of Plant-Based Oysters in Berkeley, CA

Alt-seafood startup Pearlita announces the company recently held its first tasting of plant-based oyster. Taking place on Nov. 8 in the Bay Area, the tasting was part of a fundraising effort for Pearlita, which plans to launch its first alternative oyster into restaurants and retail in 2023.  Oyster favorites Pearlita staged the tasting at Wild Earth’s headquarters near San Francisco, where guests were offered a full menu showcasing the oyster in a fried po’ boy sandwich, raw vegan oyster ceviche and raw oysters on the half-shell. Though the company is leveraging both plant-based and cultivated technologies to develop the product, Pearlita says it is first releasing a plant-based prototype while it works on scaling its cell lines.  The plant-based prototype is made from a proprietary …

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Vegan Cactus Leather Shoes

©G.H. Bass

G.H. Bass Launches First Vegan Weejun Loafers with Desserto Cactus Leather

American footwear brand G.H. Bass, known for introducing the first penny loafers in 1936, announces it is releasing two vegan versions of its classic Weejun Loafer made from Desserto cactus leather.   “Cutting-edge” sustainability Launching for Fall/ Winter 2022, the new Cactus Leather Weejun Loafers feature alternative leather developed from nopal cactus leaves, and are available in Green, Burgundy and Black colorways. The Loafers include cactus leather soft liners and insoles, waxy threaded stitched seams and traditonal Weejuns lightweight outsoles.  The Cactus Leather Loafers are available on the G.H. Bass website and retail for $202. Attractive alt-leather Founded by Adrián López Velarde and Marte Cázarez, Desserto’s award-winning cactus leather quickly broke into sustainable fashion world as an attractive, toxin- and cruelty-free alternative to leather.  Following its …

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PBFA UK

©Plant Based Food Alliance UK

Plant Based Food Groups Call for Clear Food System Transition Targets at COP27

The International Plant Based Foods Working Group (IPBFWG) has called on world leaders at COP27 to set clear, measurable targets for food system transition. The aim is to reduce the environmental impact of animal agriculture by shifting towards plant-based diets. The group also recommends that nations should: Support farmers in transitioning to more sustainable methods, including moving from animal agriculture to crop production. Educate the public about plant-based diets. Label plant-based foods appropriately to encourage sustainable choices. Make plant-based foods available in institutions such as schools and hospitals, along with recommending them as part of dietary guidelines. Ensure sustainable foods are affordable. Fund research into plant-based foods and climate-friendly crops. Present plant-based foods as the sustainable choice in environments such as retail stores. IPBFWG is …

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