Grocer Gold Awards 2022: sustainability initiative of the year - supplier

Winner: Finnebrogue Artisan - Foundation Earth on-pack eco-scores

Shoppers may have nutritional information at their fingertips, but the same cannot be said for a product’s eco-credentials. That’s the problem late Finnebrogue chairman Denis Lynn and his chief strategy officer Jago Pearson set out to address through the Foundation Earth project.

Working with experts, the pair spent years searching for a robust measure of environmental impact. In August 2021, the final method – inspired by work at Oxford University, and developed by life-cycle assessors at Mondra – was brought to life in an on-pack traffic light system.

Foundation Earth is now working with the likes of Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Danone and PepsiCo, and Nestlé is gearing up for a Europe-wide rollout on its packs in 2022.

Tragically, Denis died in May 2021, before he could see his idea realised – but his legacy well and truly lives on.

 Shortlisted:

• Podback – Coffee Pod Recycling
• Suntory Food and Beverage - Progression, Not Perfection
• Wild Cosmetics - Wild
• Wyke Farms - Good Cheddar Needn’t Cost The Earth