Anuga FoodTec 2024 has once again reinforced its position as a primary supplier trade fair and a central platform of the global food and beverage industries. ‘Responsibility’ was the top theme of the trade fair and its extensive trade programme, which provided answers to questions from the fields of alternative protein sources, energy and water management, digitalisation and artificial intelligence. New technologies and concepts for sustainable management of natural resources along the entire value creation chain were presented. The participation of 1,307 companies and nearly 40,000 trade visitors from 133 countries reinforces the position of Anuga FoodTec as a pioneer for future- related solutions in food technology.
“At this year’s Anuga FoodTec, it became clear that true responsibility extends well beyond daily business; it is the driving force for sustainable and long-term growth. In every discussion, every presentation and every new product, we saw how decisive it is to make brave decisions today for our common future”, Oliver Frese, Chief Operating Officer of Koelnmesse, reflected.
“The networking of science and entrepreneurial practice and interdisciplinary networking on the whole were achieved in an exemplary manner. This creates synergies that present the basis for overarching innovations. And it is these that we will increasingly need for a viable food system of the future, in which Anuga FoodTec is a central element as a B2B innovation and networking platform”, Prof. Katharina Riehn, Chairwoman of the DLG Food competence centre and Vice President of the DLG, emphasises.
Opening speech by The Club of Rome
Sandrine Dixson-Declève, Co-President of The Club of Rome, opened Anuga FoodTec with an impressive lecture that emphasised the pressing needs of sustainable developments. Her keynote was closely oriented to the top theme of ‘Responsibility’, and to the indispensable importance of environmentally-friendly production processes. With her address, Dixson-Declève provided a decisive impulse in the direction of sustainable transformation. At Anuga FoodTec, the exhibitors already presented what practical implementation of the discussed ideals might look like.
Commitment of the industry: a rethinking is noticeable
Anuga FoodTec demonstrated impressively: core themes such as responsibility, value creation, climate neutrality and food security are decisively shaping the direction of the food and beverage industries – far away from short-term trends. The exhibited machines thus offered, among other things, insights into innovative strategies for the minimisation of food losses and the treatment of waste water. In addition to this, they presented procedures like high pressure processing, which keeps food fresh longer without preservatives. Another area of focus was on the reduction of the use of plastic and the use of alternative packaging materials. Progress in the production of plant-based foods, which serve as pioneering solutions for more sustainable diets, was also presented. A system was presented for the first time that makes it possible to produce cultivated food on an industrial scale. The presentations on site impressively illustrated how the companies are facing the challenges of a both economically and ecologically sustainable future.
An innovative point of focus was set with the new ‘Environment & Energy’ exhibition area. This area was dedicated to progressive energy solutions, which play a growing role in the food industry. The focus was thereby on technologies like solarthermics, heat pumps, biogas and biomass, which not only advance the energy transformation but also contribute to significantly reducing the CO₂ emissions of companies and comprehensively increasing energy efficiency.
One highlight was the presentation of the International FoodTec Award. The focus was on 14 innovative projects from the global food and supplier industries.
Anuga FoodTec 2024 in figures
A total of nearly 40,000 trade visitors from 133 countries was registered, with a foreign share of over 60 percent. The largest visitor groups from outside of Europe came from China, the USA, South Korea, Israel and Japan. 1,307 exhibitors took part in Anuga FoodTec 2024. Thanks to an increased average area, visitors could this year look forward to an even greater variety of exhibits and live demonstrations. With a length of 35 metres, the longest exhibit at the trade fair was particularly impressive.
Anuga FoodTec is the leading international supplier fair for the global food and beverage industries. Organised by Koelnmesse, the next trade fair will take place in Cologne from 23.- 26.02.2027. The professional partner and industry sponsor is the DLG, the German Agricultural Society.
SIG’s Corporate Responsibility (CR) Performance Update for 2019 explores key aspects of the company’s Way Beyond Good ambition, highlights its sustainability stories of the year, and reports progress towards its targets for 2020 and beyond.
„Our packaging has delivered food safely to billions of people all over the world. We want to help shape a sustainable food system that gets the most from what it uses and gives more than it takes,” said Rolf Stangl, CEO of SIG. “To do this, we need to go further than we’ve ever gone before. We took some more big steps forward this year and the increased uptake of our most sustainable packaging solutions shows we’re using growth as a driver for good.”
Highlights in 2019
SIG continues to build on its track record of sustainable innovation and industry firsts. Highlights this year include:
Launching the world’s first Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI) labelled packs and the first aseptic carton packs with all three key materials from certified sources – paperboard, plant-based polymers and aluminium foil
Increasing uptake of SIG’s most sustainable products, such as SIGNATURE PACK and combibloc EcoPlus
Introducing the first paper straws for carton packs – first straight and then U-shaped
Accelerating the timeline to cut greenhouse gas emissions from SIG’s business – by 60 % by 2030 – with a new 1.5°C target approved by the Science Based Targets Initiative
Engaging in new recycling partnerships around the world, including the innovative so+ma programme that is rewarding consumers in Brazil for recycling
Turning food loss into over 9,200 school meals for underprivileged children in Bangladesh in the first year of the Cartons for Good programme run by the SIG Way Beyond Good Foundation
Achieving a Platinum rating from EcoVadis that puts SIG in the top 1 % of businesses for sustainability.
Going further
The CR Performance Update includes a series of stories from the year, which bring to life some of the ways that SIG is realising its ambition to go Way Beyond Good for society and the environment.
The company is focusing on driving progress in the areas where it can make the biggest difference: helping forests thrive, tackling climate change, driving sustainable product innovation, contributing to a circular economy and delivering safe nutrition.
To pursue these opportunities, SIG is building on strong foundations. It is committed to doing business ethically, buying responsibly, supporting its people and keeping them safe, and partnering with communities to help them thrive.
Transparent reporting
SIG’s CR Performance Update is transparent about progress against targets and includes an update on key performance indicators related to the company’s most material social and environmental issues. It also includes direct feedback from SIG’s external Responsibility Advisory Group, together with the company’s response.
The interim CR Performance Update complements SIG’s full CR reports, which are published every other year. It covers the same focus areas and most material social and environmental issues as SIG’s award-winning full CR Report for 2018, which includes more detail on the way we manage these issues. The 2018 CR Report was produced in accordance with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards.
Please download SIG’s CR performance update under www.sig.biz/en/
In its new sustainability report for 2017/2018 KHS documents its various sustainability measures, successes and targets
In its new sustainability report for 2017/2018 KHS documents its various sustainability measures, successes and targets. The latest publication focuses on saving resources within the company and as regards product and service concepts.
“KHS has always attached immense importance to protecting people, the climate and the environment. In our sustainability report we show which measures we’ve already taken and which we are yet to implement in this respect,” says Kai Acker, CEO of the KHS Group. The Dortmund systems supplier’s third voluntary report is again based on the globally recognized sustainability reporting standard developed by the Global Reporting Initiative and on the sustainable development goals set by the United Nations.
Concepts for the future
“We aim to continue producing holistic systems and solutions for our customers and at the same time protect the environment,” states Acker. To this end KHS intends to lower its carbon emissions in the long term by making considerable savings in energy, materials and resources – and not just within its own company but also regarding its product and service concepts. In this way the Dortmund engineering company is helping its clients to reach their own sustainability targets.
The most recent example of this is the next generation of the KHS Innofill Glass DRS ECO glass filler, distinguished by its lower energy consumption which is reduced by up to 20%. The machine also cuts carbon emissions by as much as 50%. Thanks to digital networking and monitoring the glass bottle filler also provides optimum product quality and higher line availability. “By increasingly applying intelligent products and solutions we can also boost the efficiency of our plant engineering,” Acker explains.
The next generation of the KHS glass filler is just one example of how beer, mixed beer beverages and soft drinks can be processed gently and efficiently while protecting the environment. (Photo: KHS)
Employees a source of innovation
One core component of the KHS sustainability report is the company’s personnel. Besides providing a number of facts and figures the machine manufacturer gives readers an insight into the diverse fields of work covered by its many employees and their specific commitment to sustainability over the past two years. “Our employees are of central importance to KHS. It’s they who are behind every single idea and development and who are largely instrumental in promoting our economic and sustainable actions,” emphasizes Acker. In the future KHS will continue to intensify its development in the context of climate and environmental protection and check into which process steps further measures can be integrated.
