Eco-friendly solutions are at the forefront of business practice, and that includes bakeries. Whether consumer behaviours are shaping business models or environmental pressure is adapting brand commitments, it means that sustainable bakeries are in and here to stay.
Finsbury Food Group is committed to running sustainable bakeries, from reducing energy and water use across our sites to implementing thoughtful packaging and engaging in external community projects.
The future of baking is sustainable, and Finsbury Food Group are already there.
The Sustainable Generation
The movement towards sustainable practices has grown from Generation Z. Known for their tech-savvy nature, social consciousness, and drive for a better future, Gen Z has implemented an active movement towards a sustainable planet.
Sustainability has been on our minds for a while now, with ever-expanding knowledge surrounding the environment. However, over the past decade, sustainable practices have shifted from niche to mainstream, and it’s down to younger generations applying pressure.
If your brand doesn’t go green or have a sustainable side on show, it’s likely Gen Z won’t want to know. Perceptions of a brand and shopping habits are actively based on values and principles. It’s no different in the foodservice industry. Restaurants, supermarkets, cafés or caterers are adapting more sustainable practices to attract the new cohort of consumers, whether that’s with catering to eco-friendly diets or implementing less food waste programmes.
The Rise of Sustainable Bakeries
Forbes explores the Foodservice Industry’s Sustainable Revolution, where single-use plastics are out and biodegradable alternatives are in. We’ve also seen larger brands direct sustainability campaigns for the eco-customer, such as Starbucks’ Greener Apron.
What does this mean for bakeries? Environmental awareness in everyday practices will become the norm for the foodservice industry if businesses want to remain considered. Bakeries will have to adapt to an eco-friendly way of working, inspired by the new generation of eco-conscious consumers.
A study on The Sustainable Consumer shows the changing habits of the everyday consumer, pursuing a more sustainable lifestyle. Consumers are recycling more, reducing food waste, buying more locally produced foods and seasonal produce.
The future of baking is in the eco-friendly changes:
· Overstocking is one of the biggest contributors to bakery food waste, so optimised stock management would mean less food waste, fewer short shelf-life products binned before seeing the bakery floor and a more sustainable pantry.
· Organisations like ‘Too Good to Go’ reduce wasted food at the end of the day and boost communities. Utilising these setups minimises uneaten food that ends up in the bin and shows you care more about the planet and the people around you than profit.
· Training staff properly on day-to-day operations that can massively reduce your impact on the environment, for example, separating recyclables and minimising water and energy consumption.
· Optimising where you source ingredients reduces your carbon foodprint. So locally sourced produce or taking accountability for the methods used in sourcing, such as palm oil extraction or cocoa farming.
Finsbury Food Group: A Responsible Bakery Supplier
At Finsbury Food Group, we are committed to reducing our environmental impact so that future generations can enjoy the sweetness of life. As a sustainable bakery, our Excellence Programme focuses on how we can keep baking, but responsibly.
From reducing internal carbon and energy uses to tackling plastic packaging, we ensure we operate sustainable bakeries as we know it is important to us, our people and our planet.
We are proud to say that we are a zero-waste-to-landfill group, with partnerships with charities such as ‘That Bread and Butter Thing’, distributing some of our waste to local food banks.
As for our ingredients, we work with sourcing schemes such as Rainforest Alliance and Fairtrade to ensure our impact on the environment is minimal, from palm oil initiatives to cage-free eggs.
Eco-friendly practices are paving the way for sustainable bakeries, and Finsbury Food Group is proud to say we’ve been working hard. Contact us for more information on our goals towards a sustainable future in food.
