PureCircle wins World Dairy Innovation Award for Best Environmental Sustainability Initiative

Published: 19-Jun-2014

Recognises company\'s pioneering work integrating sustainable practices across stevia supply chain


PureCircle, a Malaysian producer of high quality stevia ingredients, was presented with the World Dairy Innovation Award by FoodBev Media during the 8th Global Dairy Congress in Istanbul, Turkey.

The award recognised the company's pioneering work in integrating sustainable practices across every stage of its stevia production cycle.

'We’re delighted and grateful to be recognised for our sustainability efforts,' said Ajay Chandran, PureCircle’s Corporate Sustainability Director. 'But more importantly, we want to set an example for the wider stevia and ingredient industry to follow – one that respects people and the planet, while protecting long term profits.'

PureCircle has embedded principles of sustainability into all aspects of its supply chain – from farming to extraction and purification. Working with 25,000 independent farmers across four continents, the company supports sustainable agricultural practices – including safe agrochemical use and water and land conservation. Stevia growth uses a third or less of the land needed for other ‘sweet’ crops.

As well as initiating the first industry ‘Calorie Footprint’, PureCircle was the first company in the category to publish its carbon and water footprint. These practices were woven into the company’s 2020 sustainability goals, which are to reduce its carbon intensity by 20% from its 2011 baseline and enable a cumulative reduction of the food & beverage industry’s carbon emissions by one million metric tons, reducing water consumption by two trillion litres; and cutting calories in global diets by 13 trillion.

'It is patently clear that stevia has tremendous potential to benefit health and wellness from a calorie standpoint,' said Chandran.

'We propose that along with calorie reductions, PureCircle stevia also is an extremely sustainable ingredient that can benefit the planet and the wider eco-system of 25,000 independent farmers with whom we work.'

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