Brand-specific data as add-ons to the Agri-footprint database
Disclose your environmental data and make it visible for crucial stakeholders
The challenge of making the global production and consumption of food more sustainable is becoming increasingly urgent. The essential basis for tackling this challenge is accurate and clear information. We see a growing need for a clear, comprehensive assessment of the sustainability of agricultural products and foods. Data is one of the most valuable assets when looking into ways to make products more sustainable. Without sound and high-quality data, it is impossible to get independent insight in environmental impact of products and production chains and make the right steps to reduce the environmental impact. Therefore, we are extending our Agri-footprint database, introducing the concept of ‘Branded Data Add-ons’. Disclosure of brand-specific data helps companies to make the environmental performance of their products visible and share it with stakeholders. Furthermore, it allows users to see the environmental impacts of alternatives compared to those of the average product.
Environmental performance of products
Knowing the environmental impact of a product goes back all the way to the impacts of the ingredients or raw materials. Accuracy of the environmental impact data increases significantly when the impact of the specific ingredients is known – which can differ from brand to brand. For example, soy used in vegetarian burger A can have a much higher impact than soy used in burger B, for example because the soy is imported from different countries or is processed in a different way. The selection for certain ingredients can thus be crucial for the environmental performance of products.
Branded data extensions on the Agri-footprint database give the possibility to compare the impact of an average product with that of a specific brand. This gives a better impression of various ingredients and their contribution to for instance climate change, water use or land use. It might lead to alternative ingredient choices, which significantly reduce the environmental impact of a product.
Your data as ‘add-on’ to Agri-footprint
One of our areas of expertise is the collection of accurate environmental data of agri-food products. Therefore, in 2014 Agri-footprint was released and has grown into the world’s leading source of footprint information for agri-food products and sectors. Agri-footprint is mainly used for Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) of (agri-food) products. It brings together researchers, leaders and decision makers from business, government and science. Agri-footprint provides up-to-date, trusted and high-quality environmental supply chain information using the best available scientific literature, methods and technology. This makes the database the prime source of accurate and up-to-date environmental data on agri-products worldwide.
Disclosure of brand-specific data as an add-on to Agri-footprint can be an interesting chance to become attached to the recognized and highly valued Agri-footprint brand, while making your data visible and sharing it with crucial stakeholders. Therefore, we offer companies the opportunity to share their environmental impact data of products via our online platforms. Your impact data becomes available as an “Agri-footprint Branded Data Add-on” on our Blonk Tool Portal.
The add-ons will be available in CSV format, which can be easily imported in SimaPro software and eventually also into other LCA software. Others can access the environmental impacts through a simple Excel download. This way, researchers and product developers can compare and benchmark impact data of specific brands with general impact data. Maybe your data has favorable environmental performance, or maybe your ingredient improves the sustainability of other products? Moreover, sharing your data increase the transparency of your brand, contributing to a positive image. You are ensured the environmental performance of your products is calculated using the best available, internationally recognized calculation standards. This ensures a qualitative sound comparison, keeping your quality standards high.
How does it work?
If you have already done a Life Cycle Impact Assessment of your products, you have valuable information stored. Disclosing your data through our platforms will ensure its visibility- and easy access to the right stakeholders. The data add-ons will become available through the Blonk Tool Portal, as an Excel download as well as a CSV file. This makes it easy to use either with- or without LCA software. We share the availability of these branded datasets through all our communication channels. We have an extensive network of sustainability experts from the food industry, governmental bodies, consultants and academics, who are always looking for the best data available.
If your LCA or environmental impact data is already generated, we will first conduct a quality assessment. With this assessment we review the extent to which your data is based on primary data, and we ensure it is compliant to relevant calculation standards, so it can rightfully serve as an add-on to our high quality Agri-footprint database.
If you are interested, but you don’t have insight in your environmental data yet, contact us to discuss the opportunities.
More information
Ready to disclose your data? Interested in a quotation, or any questions? Get in touch with Laura Wolf or call +31 (0)6 8686 2077.
