C 152/70
EN
Official Journal of the European Union
6.4.2022
4.10.
The framework has led to the design of a self-assessment tool that companies can use to identify areas for improvement.
4.11.
The Fixing the Business of Food initiative is also the basis for a digital platform highlighting good practices.
The four pillar framework presents concrete examples of objectives, targets, indicators and metrics specifically selected for food businesses, aligned with Agenda 2030.
Furthermore, it can help businesses identify their KPIs, investors monitor actions and progress made by food businesses, and those drawing up sustainability reports shape their reports.
Given the peculiarities of specific subsectors, the framework has been adapted for small agri-businesses, aquaculture businesses and wine producers.
5.
Policy framework for food business alignment with the SDGs 5.1.
The EESC welcomes the EU code of conduct on responsible business and marketing practices as an important element for the implementation of the F2F Strategy.
Most involved parties consider the development of the voluntary code overall as a valuable process which has brought the partners of the food supply chain closer together.
The initiative marks a starting point and should continue to serve as a collaborative platform for responsible and sustainable business practices.
5.2.
However, the EESC, also based on feedback from companies and stakeholders, highlights the limitations of a voluntary approach and stresses the need to adopt regulation and legislation to ensure a swift transition to sustainability.
This also includes a review of the competition rules to further promote cooperation and sustainability across the supply chain.
5.3.
Furthermore, the EESC stresses that the code of conduct is weak when it comes to the social dimension and regrets that there is no mention of collective bargaining.
Social dialogue is very important and the social partners should be involved across the chain.
The pathway to sustainability should also have a positive impact on wages and working conditions.
5.4.
The Code also lacks actions to increase the affordability of healthy and sustainable food.
Affordability of healthy and sustainable food would help consumers in adopting a healthy and sustainable diet.
5.5.
The Code of Conduct lacks a robust monitoring mechanism to assess the relevance, implementation, and impact of the commitments.
A sound review process for implementation of the code of conduct on the ground must be put in place to monitor whether or not the individual commitments and pledges for the aspirational targets are delivered.
The experience shows that only what is measured and monitored gets done.
Overall, a stronger involvement of civil society (social dialogue) will also be crucial for the success.
A multi-stakeholder and multi-level European Food Policy Council, as proposed by the EESC in previous opinions (22), could among others facilitate civil society’s involvement in monitoring the Code of conduct.
5.6.
So far, it is mainly larger and multinational companies that have signed up to the code of conduct.
An enabling environment has to be created to support and facilitate stronger engagement with the SDG agenda for SMEs to become a priority for EU food policies.
While larger companies often have their own sustainability departments in place, it seems that SMEs often have only limited resources and capacities to embed sustainability in their businesses.
5.7.
The EESC points to the conclusions from its previous opinions calling for a fairer food supply chain and recognising the exceptional functioning of the food supply chain across Europe ensuring access to high-quality food for all citizens, every day.
Swift implementation of the EU directive on unfair trading practices (UTPs) and of other support policies by the Member States is necessary to foster more sustainable and resilient food systems (23).
(22) (23)
EESC opinion on Civil society’s contribution to the development of a comprehensive food policy in the EU (OJ C 129, 11.4.2018, p. 18), and EESC opinion on ‘Farm to Fork’: a sustainable food strategy (OJ C 429, 11.12.2020, p. 268).
EESC opinion on Towards a fairer food supply chain (OJ C 517, 22.12.2021, p. 38).