New FMI guide helps food retailers source sustainably

To help food retailers navigate the sometimes confusing terrain of sustainable sourcing, the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) recently launched its Sustainable Sourcing Guide for High-Impact Commodities. 

According to FMI, sustainable sourcing will be critical to the long-term success of retailers as availability concerns arise. "Through collaboration, industries can reduce stress on the environment and volatility in the cost of commodities that businesses depend on for survival," says the organization’s senior director for sustainability, Jeanne von Zastrow. 

Developed by FMI and its Sustainability Executive Committee, which includes members from Canadian retailers Loblaw, Sobeys and Kudrinko's, the free, 11-page guide provides a clear overview of some of the most widely used high-impact commodities. High-impact commodities are identified by FMI as those items that have sensitive social, environmental and economic impacts because of where they are produced, harvested and/or processed and include sugar cane, cocoa, paper/pulp, coffee, soy, palm oil and beef. 

For each high-impact commodity the guide provides a situation analysis that details the commodity's environmental impact as well as a list of sustainable sourcing questions food retailers should ask their suppliers. It also provides details of third-party certification opportunities for each commodity and shows retailers where they can go to find more information.