PureCircle named finalist for FiE sustainability award

Global leader in stevia production, PureCircle is a finalist for the 2013 Food Ingredients Europe (FiE) Excellence Awards. The company was nominated in the Sustainability Initiative of the Year category for its pioneering work in quantitative measurement of the positive impact of replacing nutritive sweeteners with natural-origin stevia. “It’s gratifying to be recognized among our peers for our sustainability efforts,” explains Ajay Chandran, corporate sustainability director. “Sustainability is part of our corporate DNA. From the outset, we’ve invested in sustainable practices to fulfill our corporate vision to lead the global expansion of stevia as the next mass volume natural sweetener that is grown, processed and delivered in a way that respects both people and the planet.”

PureCircle has taken an industry leading role in development of comprehensive sustainability programs, and the recent announcement of its 2020 Vision to reduce carbon, water, waste and energy across its supply chain, solidifies this commitment.  In particular, the development of a calorie, water and carbon footprint initiative, was designed to measure the direct benefits of the use of zero-calorie stevia to replace other nutritive sweeteners in everyday food and beverage products. PureCircle is the first stevia company to publish both water and carbon footprint information.

The PureCircle sustainability initiative can be measurably applied to food and beverage manufacturers’ own corporate sustainability targets and initiatives. It not only reflects decreased carbon, water and calorie usage, but also illustrates the positive impact on local farming communities, providing better income streams and improved livelihoods.

Category winners will be announced Nov. 19, 2013, in Frankfurt, Germany, during the FiE Excellence Awards ceremony.