Material efficiency commitment for the food sector contributes to carbon neutrality and circular economy
The aim of the food sector’s material efficiency commitment is to reduce the environmental impact of food production, distribution and consumption. The Commitment involves companies in the food processing, retail and catering sectors, whose actions are key to achieving its objectives.
The Material Efficiency Commitments are a voluntary approach between business and government and a key tool in Finland’s journey towards a circular economy society.
The food sector signed its first Material Efficiency Commitment for 2019-2021, with excellent results in the first period, which encouraged the agreement of the next period for 2022-2026.
The Finnish Food and Drink Industries’ Federation, the Finnish Grocery Trade Association, and the Finnish Hospitality Association MaRa have signed a commitment with the Ministry of Employment and the Economy, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, and the Ministry of the Environment. Motiva is responsible for the practical coordination of the commitment.
Elintarvikealan materiaalitehokkuuden sitoumus 2022-2026
The main objectives of the Food Material Efficiency Commitment
- Material efficiency for better profitability and sustainability.
- Awareness of material efficiency opportunities and means is growing in the food chain and among consumers.
This will be achieved by reducing food waste and food wastage, making production processes more efficient, increasing recycling and reducing the use of packaging materials and plastics. The grocery sector will also aim to increase recycling rates.
By joining the Commitment, the company commits to implement concrete material efficiency measures and report on the results annually. The targets are common to all participants in the Commitment, but each company will determine the best way to achieve them.
Commitment is a tool for achieving social goals
The Material Efficiency Commitment for the food sector is a tool for achieving social objectives. It is part of the Agenda2030 action programme and the Social Commitment for Sustainable Development and contributes to the implementation of the Government’s decision in principle on the Circular Economy Programme, which aims to achieve a carbon-neutral circular economy society by 2035.
The Commitment will provide measurable data on the results of business measures for the whole sector. Organisations and ministries will monitor the effectiveness of the activities.
Why join the food industry’s material efficiency commitment:
- Material-efficient operations deliver significant economic benefits.
- The commitment encourages companies to take a systematic and targeted approach to improving material efficiency.
- Encourage the measurement and development of measures.
- A public commitment makes a company’s sustainability work visible.
- Joining the Commitment is easy and free of charge.
Join the commitment
- Instructions for joining the Sitoumus2050 service: Commitment to material efficiency in the food industry
- Support for joining and other questions related to the commitment matsit.helpdesk@motiva.fi
- Check out the commitments made by participating companies on the Sitoumus2050 service: Commitments made to material efficiency
Results of the 2024 Food Material Efficiency Commitment
The second period of the food sector’s material efficiency commitment (2022-2026) is well underway. The 2024 results show that the participating companies are committed to promoting material efficiency and the circular economy. The results reporting includes 17 companies from the food industry, grocery and catering sectors.
The 2024 results in a nutshell:
- 99 material efficiency measures implemented
- 2 750 tonnes less food waste
- Almost €6 million in cost savings for businesses
Motiva is responsible for monitoring the commitment and will produce an annual summary of the measures reported by companies and their results.
Elintarvikealan materiaalitehokkuuden sitoumuksen tulokset 2024
Elintarvikealan materiaalitehokkuuden sitoumuksen tulokset 2019–2021
Circular economy green deal brings continuity to the food sector’s material efficiency theme
The second period of the Food Material Efficiency Commitment will run until the end of 2026. The work on material efficiency in the food sector will be sustained by the Renewing the Food System transformation area, which is part of the Green Deal Commitment for the Circular Economy.
The Green Deal for the Circular Economy (KGD) is a voluntary and strategic commitment, launched in 2024, to accelerate the transition towards a circular economy through common frameworks and commitments. It enables organisations to identify and receive support for the implementation of circular economy actions that are key to their own operations. The commitment is coordinated by the Ministry of the Environment and the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment.
Contact us:
Elina Fast
Expert