The University of Leuven and AZTI technology centre developed the Enviroscore label. According to its creators, it is based on the Product Environmental Footprint approved and validated by the European Commission before being released.
The European Product Environmental Footprint is an internationally accepted and standardised method that measures the impact of products.
The system allows companies and consumers to easily measure and communicate their environmental impact and helps them choose more sustainable products. Saioa Ramos, a research assistant at AZTI, explained that the system is designed to help them make better choices.
An algorithm that incorporates 16 environmental impacts
Enviroscore, an algorithm that measures the environmental impact of every stage of the production and consumption of a kilogram of product, is called Enviroscore.She said. It combines 16 environmental effects, including climate change potential and ozone layer loss, water pollution, exhaustion of fossil resources, and toxicity.
The aggregate score is then converted into a simple, intuitive, five-level communication system (A–E) based on this analysis. This classification covers all aspects related to how the product was produced, packaged, distributed, consumed, and managed.
After validation with 150 food items, it was found that the system could determine impact variability between different food or beverage products. Additionally, it could be used within the same product category to discern products with poor production techniques, excessive packaging and long transport distances.The AZTI expert was also included.
Enviroscore is now operational. It is currently operational at the measurement system level. Companies are currently measuring their environmental impacts, which will allow them extract lines of action to create more sustainable products, we were told.
AZTI has been working with approximately 20 companies from different categories to implement Enviroscore in a first phase. Enviroscore’s data digitizisation and scalability model allows many companies to use the labelling software simultaneously. This will be activated after the pilot tests are completed. said Ramos.
AZTI is a member of Basque Research and Technology Alliance. It is a research centre that specializes in the food and maritime fishingvalue chains. A labelling system that was developed by independent scientists to address the ever-growing concerns of consumers and companies about more sustainable and responsible food production. Many companies support the initiative, as well the Basque government, and the European Union through its European EITFood innovation initiative. This initiative aims to make the food supply more sustainable, healthy, and trustworthy.
There are currently almost 460 eco-labels worldwide. More than 120 types of front-of pack labels are used on food and beverage products. These labels provide more information to shoppers about the environmental footprint of food.
Eco-Score was launched last ye as a sort of environmental equivalent of Nutri-Score. It has been tested by major European retailers like Colruyt or Lidl. The Foundation Earth labelling system, which is Nestle-backed, was also unveiled.
These labels are based on life cycle assessments that calculate the product’s environmental impact using indicators such as carbon, water pollution, and biodiversity. This information is then communicated to consumers in a single letteror score at the front of the pack.
Analysts anticipated that there would soon be a stream of new environmental labels challenging the status quo in the market after these launches.