Optimizing Sustainability

A framework for prioritizing and communicating
your organization’s sustainability commitments
View Modules

Sustainability was originally synonymous with being “green.” Improving and protecting the environment was the initial driver for both consumers and business. Today, consumers view sustainability more holistically, incorporating interconnected sets of issues tied to being a responsible consumer and responsible citizen. While sustainability still maintains a strong association with environmental attributes, today’s definition can also include health and wellness, animal welfare, treatment of workers, food waste, packaging, impact on local and indigenous communities, and a range of additional issues that impact people, animals and the planet.

A variety of interest groups and other organizations are harnessing the increased interest in the evolving definition of sustainability to capture opportunity or promote a specific agenda. In its work in this arena, The Center for Food Integrity has identified more than 250 separate attributes of sustainability and corporate social responsibility. As a result, a new and growing challenge is the focus on a single ingredient, process or practice without accounting for the potential impact on the entire food system. The challenge for many food system stakeholders is recognizing the interrelated nature of food production systems and the lack of a framework for understanding, evaluating and communicating the impacts and tradeoffs of individual decisions on the entire food system.

The Optimizing Sustainability framework is intended to give food system stakeholders tools and processes to evaluate the growing list of sustainability priorities to determine the impact of potential decisions. With this information companies can make better informed decisions that are aligned with their values, the values of their stakeholders and their business objectives. The framework is designed to both help companies make decisions and to communicate those decisions in a manner that reflects the organization’s values and commitment to sustainability.

This framework contains three modules that companies can use based on their stage of development and need:

Resources

Visit the Resources section for links to sustainability organizations and information sources, including an online directory of agriculture commodity organizations and trade associations.

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