Sustainable food is becoming increasingly popular in the Netherlands. It means that both producers and consumers treat people, animals, and the environment with respect. It’s not just about the environment and climate, but also about animal welfare, nature conservation, and fair trade.
The sales of sustainably certified food increased significantly in the first half of 2019. These certifications are shown on food and drink packaging as logos. Examples include the Beter Leven (Better Life) label, Fairtrade, and the EKO label.
At the beginning of 2019, the Dutch spent 2.5 billion euros on food products with a sustainability label — an increase of 28% compared to the first half of 2018.
One in five euros spent on groceries now goes to food with a sustainability logo.
The Beter Leven label leads the way: products with this certification accounted for 32% of all sustainable food sales — mainly thanks to cold cuts, pork, and eggs.
Organic food showed the smallest growth, with an 8% increase in the first half of 2019 compared to the same period in 2018.