Sustainability is an essential concept to ensure a balanced future between human needs and the preservation of our planet. It rests on three main pillars: the economy, the environment, and social aspects, often represented by the term "triple bottom line." The goal is to create a balance where resources are used responsibly, thus ensuring the sustainability of ecosystems for future generations. In this context, the food industries play a crucial role, and sustainable production of plant extracts is becoming a priority.

• Climate Change: According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Report of 2021 (1), global greenhouse gas emissions need to decrease by 45% by 2030 compared to 2010 levels to limit global warming to 1.5°C.
• Deforestation: The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) (2) estimates that approximately 10 million hectares of forests are lost each year, equivalent to the size of Iceland. Deforestation significantly contributes to CO₂ emissions and biodiversity loss.
• Plastic Waste: The World Economic Forum (3) warns that if current pollution trends continue, there will be more plastic than fish in the oceans by 2050. This underscores the urgent need for more effective waste management and reduced plastic consumption.
• Water Consumption: Agriculture accounts for about 70% of global freshwater consumption. Sustainable agricultural practices such as drip irrigation and crop rotation can help reduce water use.
• Greenhouse Gas Emissions: The food sector is responsible for 26% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Meat production, in particular, has a high carbon footprint, mainly due to ruminant livestock farming.
• Food Waste: Nearly one-third of the food produced worldwide, approximately 1.3 billion tonnes, is lost or wasted each year. Reducing food waste is essential for a sustainable food industry.

These key figures highlight the critical challenges and areas where sustainable practices are urgently needed to mitigate environmental impact and ensure a sustainable future for generations to come.

The food industries are central to both the challenges and solutions regarding sustainability. They have a significant impact on the environment, whether through the use of natural resources or emissions associated with food production, transportation, and processing.

Agriculture and water use

To begin with, enhancing water use efficiency in agriculture is crucial. Drip irrigation has proven to be an effective solution for minimizing water losses due to evaporation, particularly in regions like Spain and California. This method has led to nearly a 40% reduction in water consumption while simultaneously increasing crop yields, such as olives and grapes. Furthermore, choosing crops that require less water also supports more sustainable water resource management. In the food industry, particularly in France, companies are establishing internal services to limit water consumption and explore solutions for recycling water within their operations. This collective effort can significantly contribute to sustainable water management practices

Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in food production

Meat production is one of the main sources of greenhouse gas emissions, particularly due to the methane emitted by ruminants. This observation has led food industries to adopt strategies aimed at reducing their carbon footprint. Among these solutions, the adoption of plant-based diets emerges as a key alternative. Concurrently, efforts to improve farming practices are also being implemented to minimize environmental impact.

These initiatives include more effective herd management, which helps reduce methane emissions through appropriate feeding and care practices. Additionally, the integration of new technologies in animal nutrition contributes to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. For example, the use of specific feed additives has shown potential to decrease methane production during the digestion of ruminants.

The food industry is increasingly valuing plant-based proteins, both to meet the growing consumer demand for more sustainable alternatives and to mitigate the environmental impacts associated with animal production. This trend is accompanied by heightened consumer awareness, with individuals increasingly encouraged to adopt higher-quality and more environmentally friendly eating practices.

Reducing food waste and combating waste

Food waste, which accounts for approximately one-third of global production, is a major problem. Initiatives for recovering surplus food allow for the redistribution of these excesses before they are wasted, thereby reducing both waste and the loss of resources used to produce this food. In parallel, food waste recovery programs convert food scraps into biogas or compost, minimizing their environmental impact.

Food companies are increasingly promoting upcycling, which refers to the valorization of their own waste as well as that from other industries. For example, in the organic waste sector, some industries dealing with fruits and vegetables do not utilize seeds or peels; these are either sent for anaerobic digestion or used for animal feed. However, these co-products can be further transformed by other industries to enhance their value (for instance, for dietary supplements, insulation materials, or even natural fertilizers).

Reducing the use of single-use plastics in food packaging is essential. Packaging reuse programs are in place, where containers are collected, cleaned, and reused to decrease plastic waste production. This offers a sustainable alternative to disposable packaging while raising consumer awareness about the importance of reducing plastic usage.

Sustainable Raw Material Sourcing

Sourcing raw materials, particularly in the food industry, is a critical aspect of ensuring sustainable practices. This involves selecting ingredients that are either organically grown or ethically sourced while minimizing transportation distances to reduce carbon footprints. For instance, in the cocoa and coffee sectors, certifications such as Fair Trade and Rainforest Alliance play a pivotal role in promoting environmentally friendly practices and protecting producers' rights. These certifications not only help preserve local ecosystems but also support rural communities by ensuring fair wages and sustainable livelihoods.

Use of greener processing technologies

Food processing also has an environmental impact. The adoption of greener technologies, such as using renewable energy in factories and reducing water and energy consumption during product processing, is crucial. One emerging technology is supercritical fluid extraction, which enables the production of plant-based food extracts with fewer chemical solvents, thus reducing pollution and toxic waste. Additionally, some companies are adopting more eco-friendly pasteurization methods, such as high-pressure processing (HPP), which extends the shelf life of food without the need for high temperatures or artificial preservatives (4).

Plant extracts play a crucial role in both the food and animal industries, where they are used to enhance flavors, extend shelf life, and provide nutritional and functional benefits. For example, rosemary extracts serve as natural preservatives due to their antioxidant properties, while stevia extract is used as a calorie-free natural sweetener. In animal nutrition, these extracts can be used preventively in feed to optimize animal welfare and meat production outcomes. (5)

Here’s how these extracts are sustainably integrated into the food production chain:

The Importance of Raw Material Sourcing

Sustainable sourcing of raw materials is crucial for the production of plant extracts. This involves selecting plants grown without excessive use of pesticides or chemical fertilizers, thereby respecting biodiversity and local ecosystems. Moreover, working directly with local communities for sourcing can ensure fair trade practices and support local economies.

An example of responsible sourcing includes environmentally friendly agriculture, which prohibits the use of synthetic pesticides and promotes cultivation methods beneficial to soil health. Additionally, fair trade practices guarantee producers a fair price for their products, thereby improving their living and working conditions.

Quality sourcing directly impacts the final product quality. A raw material grown under optimal conditions preserves all its intrinsic properties, including its native molecules of interest. This ensures that the plant extracts maintain their effectiveness and purity, meeting the high standards expected in various applications within the food and animal industries.

Green Extraction Technologies all this part needs to have literature indicated to sustain the claims

Ecologically friendly extraction technologies are crucial for reducing the environmental footprint of plant extract production. These technologies enable the efficient extraction of active compounds from plants while respecting the environment. An example of such an approach is supercritical CO₂ extraction, which utilizes carbon dioxide under high pressure to extract active plant compounds without the use of toxic chemical solvents. This method is particularly suited for extracts from spices and herbs used as natural preservatives and flavor additives.

Supercritical CO₂ extraction is considered environmentally friendly because the CO₂ used can be recycled within the process. Additionally, the CO₂ used can be of mineral origin or sourced from recycling processes in other industries. This technology has several advantages, including reducing the use of environmentally harmful solvents, thereby decreasing the risk of pollution.

Green extraction technologies enable the production of purer and more concentrated extracts without chemical residues, which is particularly important for the food and pharmaceutical industries. This ensures that the extracts maintain their natural integrity and safety, meeting stringent regulatory and consumer demands for quality and sustainability.

Sustainability is a multidimensional challenge that requires concerted efforts across all sectors, particularly the food industry. By adopting sustainable agricultural practices, reducing food waste, and utilizing green extraction technologies, we can significantly decrease the ecological footprint of our production systems. Responsible sourcing and green extraction technologies represent significant steps toward creating a more sustainable system. By embracing these practices, we not only protect our planet but also ensure the longevity of natural resources and the quality of products for future generations.

However, climate change poses a major threat to these sustainability efforts. Rising temperatures, extreme weather events, and changing precipitation patterns affect agricultural yields and water availability, making it even more urgent to develop sustainable and adaptive strategies. Without swift action to mitigate the impacts of climate change, advancements toward sustainable food production could be jeopardized, compromising food security and the health of ecosystems worldwide.