Sustainability is one of the consumer trends driving demand for food and healthy ingredients

The US sustainability market hit $15bn in sales in 2021, according to Nielsen, as sustainably-positioned products continue to gain more traction with consumers. According to a survey from Retail Insight of over 1,000 US respondents who were asked about their shopping habits over the last 12 months, over two-thirds (67%) of those polled have tried to be more sustainable in their consumption habits over the past year. Broken down by age, 88% of 25- to 34-year-olds said they have become more sustainable in their shopping and consumption habits over the past 12 months.

Additionally, nearly half of (49%) consumers surveyed by Retail Insight said they are willing to spend more on sustainable products and 52% of respondents reported that they would be happy for the price of their weekly shopping trip to be higher if it meant helping the environment.

The results of this survey pose a challenge to manufacturers and retailers about sustainability in their value chains. The food and nutrition ingredients industry is no exception to this trend.

Sustainable protein

One of the key trends set to make its mark on the food system is sustainable protein. Sustainable protein includes alternatives to animal food products, such as meat, eggs, and dairy, that leverage novel food technologies such as plant-based, cell-based, and fermentation.

These products seek to replace conventionally-produced animal products, contributing around 18% of global GHG emissions. The report also includes insect proteins in this category but notes that this sector is in a “hard position” against other alternatives.

Analysts at DigitalFoodLab expect these sources of reliable, sustainable, and affordable proteins to make a dent in the animal protein market in around a decade. “[They] won’t replace the animal in the short term, but they may at least absorb the growing demand for more protein in the 10 to 15 years.”

In addition to novel protein products, fish protein is also an exciting product segment in the previous stage. Farmed fish are small animals with a lower carbon footprint than cows, pigs, and chickens. Especially with aquaculture development in recent years, protein and raw materials from sustainably farmed fish have become a worthy choice for producers and consumers.

Inspired Case

Vinh Wellness is a division of Vinh Hoan corporation that is the global pangasius leader. Thanks to the advantage of strictly controlled raw materials from hatchery to processing, Vinh Wellness’ products can be traced back to sustainability and responsible production. Vinh Hoan’s pangasius farming area is also the first pangasius farming in the world to achieve ASC certification.

Intrigued to know more? Get in touch with us to learn more about sustainable products of Vinh Wellness today.

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