Is The Confectionery Industry Heading Towards ‘Sweet Sustainability’?

We all recognise the sound of sweet wrapper being opened in the cinema, or the rustle of a packet from another room. Sweets and other confectionery have always been popular, and always will be, but they are another significant market that is needing to make a move towards being more sustainable.

This is not only important for the world that we live in, but it is also a big influencing factor for consumers who want their chosen brands to represent greener efforts.

In this article, Distinctive Confectionery, specialists in branded confectionery take a look at the ways in which the confectionery industry is becoming more sustainable and what this could mean for them.

Sustainable Packaging

We are all aware of the amount of plastic that is used in packaging of all sorts of items, and confectionery is no exception. There are now increased moves to not only make more packaging recycled, but to make it from recycled materials as well. There are many packaging options which are now compostable, recyclable or biodegradable, and manufacturers are doing all they can to reduce the amount of packaging that they use at all in an effort to minimise their impact on the environment.

Many are decreasing the amount of plastic they are using and are turning to cardboard and other recyclable materials to pack and protect their products instead, helping to reduce waste both on their own sites and in the consumers homes.

Going for ethically sourced Ingredients

It is easy to think that sustainability is just about the packaging, but the ingredients themselves can play just as important a role. Confectionery manufacturers are now trying to be more responsible in the way that they source their ingredients, by not only looking for fair trade producers but also those who are making efforts to reduce their carbon footprint.

This can be done through the use of organic sugars, or other flavourings that have been ethically harvested. Many ingredients require a lot of water, which can also have a harmful effect on the local environment, and so manufacturers are looking for those who have found innovative ways around this.

Another ingredient which is being used less and less is palm oil. Whilst it is used in around 50% of foodstuffs, its impact on the environment can be devastating. It can lead to huge losses in natural habitats and carbon-rich tropical forests and peatlands, which makes it a massive contributor to global warming. Therefore, manufacturers are looking for ways to replace palm oil with other, more sustainable alternatives.

Energy efficiency in production

Another polluting factor in the confectionery industry is the energy required to make the products and their packaging. Confectionery manufacturers are now working to find more energy-efficient practices, such as more efficient technology and LED lighting. In addition to this, they are also trying to make use of renewable energy so that the energy they do use is from a cleaner source.

Adopting more efficient logistics and local supplychain

One of the big polluting factors from any manufacturing industry comes from the transportation involved in the process. Whether it is shipping over ingredients or shipping out the finished product, it can all contribute to climate change.

That is why local sourcing is being encouraged, to reduce how far ingredients need to travel. Manufacturers are also finding that by reducing the amount of packaging they use, they are able to increase the number of items that they are able to transport, meaning that less loads are travelling across the world, and less emissions are being released.

With so many changes in place, confectionery manufacturers are starting to notice the sweet smell of success when it comes to creating a more sustainable future for the industry.

The article contains the opinions of the author who is presumed to be an industry insider. The Local Brand® does not endorse any advice, services or products suggested.