As part of its new sustainability goals, GNT is committed to reducing carbon dioxide emissions from its factories by at least 50% by 2030, while also increasing energy efficiency by 30% and water efficiency by 20%. Achieving these targets is expected to lead to significant cost savings. However, there are additional rewarding strategies that the ingredient manufacturer could adopt to become what Sustainability Manager Rutger de Kort describes as “the most sustainable food coloring solution on the market.”
Enhancing color intensity is crucial, as it enables GNT to deliver the same results with fewer crops, ultimately leading to reduced expenditures on water, fertilizers, pesticides, and transportation. The company has already been exploring plant varieties with naturally high color levels, and its new sustainability roadmap sets specific targets for its primary crops, such as carrots, radishes, and sweet potatoes. This initiative includes breeding crops better suited to their environments and end uses, while also improving cultivation techniques—optimizing planting densities, harvesting periods, and identifying superior growing regions.
GNT is also focused on enhancing the knowledge of the farmers who cultivate its crops, which include black and orange carrots, radishes, pumpkins, sweet potatoes, and turmeric. Currently, around 60% of these contract farmers are trained in sustainable agricultural practices, covering aspects such as biodiversity, soil health, and water management. By 2030, GNT aims to ensure that all its farmers are trained and certified in sustainable practices.
Innovation in product development is another avenue the company is pursuing to achieve its goals. In terms of color concentration, GNT has already made strides; for instance, in 2019, it introduced a range of red food colors that are 50% more intense, allowing for smaller dosages and subsequently reducing packaging and transportation costs.
Another vital opportunity lies in addressing food waste. GNT utilizes over 30 different raw materials to produce its Exberry coloring portfolio. Approximately two-thirds of these raw materials are transformed into color concentrates, while the remaining one-third consists of wet pulp, as indicated in the sustainability report. Currently, the company repurposes 90% of this byproduct for animal feed, with less than 10% designated for human consumption.
GNT has already started using some of its byproducts to create a caramelized carrot concentrate for its Exberry range. This ingredient, derived from the sugar of orange carrots, can add brown hues to food and beverages. To meet its objective of using at least 75% of all solid and liquid byproducts for human consumption by 2030, GNT recognizes the need for substantial investments in research and development. Notably, it has discovered that it can generate a byproduct from its carrot side stream that resembles molasses and could serve as a valuable ingredient. The company is also exploring applications for flavoring and plant-based meat ingredients from its byproducts, such as pure encapsulations calcium citrate, to further enhance its sustainability efforts.