Raising the Bar for Sustainability Performance in Ontario's Food and Beverage Processing Industry

Food & Consumer Products of Canada (FCPC), the Guelph Food Technology Centre and OCETA are working together on a project to increase the competitiveness and reduce the environmental footprint of Ontario's food and beverage processing industry by developing practical tools and a "how-to" framework for implementing an integrated sustainability strategy.

The project is being implemented in three phases over a three-year period:

• Phase One: Benchmarking the Industry and Designing the Sustainability Framework;
• Phase Two: Testing the Framework in a Pilot Program; and
• Phase Three: Transferring the Framework Across the Food and Beverage Sector in Ontario.

The project is currently in Phase One, which is focused on understanding the current state of sustainability performance in Ontario's food and beverage industry; developing a sustainability performance self-assessment tool; benchmarking the superior sustainability performance of leaders in the industry; delivering a sustainability recognition program for the food and beverage processing industry; and designing a sustainability implementation framework.

Benefits to participating food and beverage processing companies will include increased competitiveness and profitability through cost reduction, operational efficiency, productivity improvements, business risk reduction, attraction and retention of key talent, enhanced brand reputation and increased market share; and a smaller environmental footprint through reduced energy and water consumption and reduced generation of wastes, toxics and air emissions.

The core funding for Phase 1 of this project is supported in part through the Food and Beverage Industry Innovation Fund (FBIIF) by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's Advancing Canadian Agriculture and Agri-Food Program and the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs through the Alliance of Ontario Food Processors. The Agricultural Adaptation Council administers the FBIIF. The Fund has been established to encourage investment into new, innovative processes, products, and skills development.

Other organizations providing funding support and resources for the project include the Ontario Power Authority (OPA) through the Conservation Fund and the City of Toronto, Economic Development, Culture and Tourism Department.

To find out more, contact:

Meena Hassanali, Manager Sustainability Programs, OCETA
e-mail: mhassanali (at) oceta.on.ca
tel: 905-822-4133 x233