I fundamentally believe that we need a step-change in behaviour if we are to create better lives for ourselves and a better future for our planet.
Achieving change at a global and governmental level is hugely challenging and new policies can take many years to implement followed by a lag until the benefits are realised.
But small changes, which can be rapidly implemented, can also contribute to step-change, and even if ideas and solutions are not perfect, it is better to try and fail or fall short, rather than not try at all.
And with that ethos in mind, I have been fortunate enough to be able to work with a number of sector-leading experts, focused on bringing to market products which are good for the person and good for the planet.
Through my product and packaging knowledge gained during my career, I understand the challenges that moving to eco-packaging solutions present as does creating ‘clean’ foods which are additive free with health at their core.
But technology and science is advancing all the time and there are many new solutions for both the above that can truly deliver benefits.
Take probiotics for example. In Europe and the UK there are currently no permitted health claims for probiotics relating to improved gut health whereas in the U.S various claims are permitted.
There are sound principles which have blocked potential claims for sector products to date, but the relatively new development of second generation probiotic spores are delivering exciting and consistent results in trials which may well lead to a submission to the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) by those at the frontier of product development in this sphere, Kerry Foods & Ganeden.
Working with my partners, we have incorporated this exciting product development into Jolly Goodness®, a range of green and black tea shots fortified with vitamins, C, D and B complex.
Reducing salt in our diet is another area where my colleagues and I have brought a truly exciting innovation to market with Suölo®.
Our range of 50% reduced sodium seasonings use patented, magnesium replacement technology to deliver a product which tastes like salt and yet with half the sodium.
And indeed Pladis have used Smart Salt®, the proprietary ingredient in our products which has enabled sodium reduction in the recent reformulation of Twiglets.
Similarly, it is well recognised that the Mediterranean diet is the healthiest diet globally.
And it has long been understood that high quality, extra virgin olive oil confers significant health benefits, and indeed there is a permitted claim in this respect within the EFSA approved claims registry.
We worked diligently in developing our understanding of this claim and were then able to present a consumer facing communication which has achieved the first Trading Standards approval (via a Primary Authority Agreement) within Europe for a heart health claim for our Positively Good For You® Heart Healthy, Mediterranean foods brand.
These are just three of the exciting innovations which are taking place within food and nutritional science which we have harnessed into our product concepts, but there are more leading developments ahead which we are watching with interest.
