Cereals and sugar
Here you will find sustainability criteria for the procurement of cereal products and sugar. Production of these products affects the environment in different ways and in some cases there is a risk of poor working conditions. As a procurer, you can set demands for a more sustainable production, both socially and environmentally.
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Criteria group
| Download | Description | ||||
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| EU-organic product | Core | Technical specification | Cereals and other grain products | ||
Criterion information Organic production promotes sustainable agriculture. Organic farming should respect nature's ecosystems and different natural cycles, and strive to maintain and improve the quality of soil, water, plant health and the health of animals. The balance between all elements is to be maintained and preferably improved. Criterion text Food products must be produced in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2018/848 of the European Parliament and of the Council on organic production and labelling of organic products. | |||||
| No straw-shortening agents | Core | Technical specification | Cereals and other grain products | ||
Criterion information Plant growth regulators are plant protection products used in growing cereals to reduce the risk of crop lodging. Minimal or no use of plant growth regulators entails a reduced risk for residues in food and spreading of chemical substances to the environment. Criterion text Unprocessed products made from cereals such as flour, made of wheat, oats and barley must have been grown without the use of plant growth regulators. | |||||
| Cadmium content in the product | Spearhead | Technical specification | Cereals and other grain products | ||
Criterion information Cadmium that accumulates in the ground can pose long-term health and environmental risks. Cadmium can be absorbed by the root systems of the plants and introduced to arable land through air pollution or commercial fertilisers. Digested sludge and livestock effluents can also contribute to the introduction of cadmium to arable land. Criterion text The cadmium content of non-compound products made of raw wheat and/or oats must not exceed 0.1 mg/kg wet weight.1 | |||||
| Information about origin of the raw material – plant products | Core | Technical specification | Cereals and other grain products | ||
Criterion information Transparency and traceability within the food supply chain is a prerequisite to being able to monitor both environmental requirements and social requirements within the supply chain. A requirement for information regarding the origin of raw material, along with the possibility for monitoring, ensures traceability for the contracting organisation. Criterion text For food products from vegetable raw material, information regarding the country(ies) of origin of the material(s) shall be available and can be presented upon request during the contract period, including any substitute items. Information regarding the raw material's country(ies) of origin shall contain:
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| Wheat cultivated with BAT-fertilizer | Spearhead | Technical specification | Cereals and other grain products | ||
Criterion information Production made with less resource demanding and/or cleaning techniques can contribute to reduced climate impact. Criterion text Raw material of wheat in the product must have been produced with electricity from renewable resources1 (hydropower, wind power, solar energy, biofuels, waste heat or Nordic electricity mix) for drying and storage and been cultivated with fertilizer from a production facility which uses nitrous oxide purification. | |||||
| GMO-free products | Core | Technical specification | Cereals and other grain products | ||
Criterion information Procuring authorities that have taken a stance against GMOs may consider requesting this. The environmental impact from genetically modified organisms has not yet been The use of genetically modified organisms (GMO) is not common in food products within the European market, rather they are primarily found in animal feed. Contracting organisations that have taken a stance against GMOs may consider requesting GMO-free products. Criterion text Products containing fruit and vegetables shall not consist of, contain, or have been created from genetically modified organisms (GMO). Traces of authorised GMO1 are permitted under the condition that they are unintentional or technically unavoidable, and that they do not constitute more than 0.9 per cent of each individual raw material in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 on genetically modified food and feed. | |||||
| EU-organic product | Core | Technical specification | Bread | ||
Criterion information Organic production promotes sustainable agriculture. Organic farming should respect nature's ecosystems and different natural cycles, and strive to maintain and improve the quality of soil, water, plant health and the health of animals. The balance between all elements is to be maintained and preferably improved. Criterion text Food products must be produced in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2018/848 of the European Parliament and of the Council on organic production and labelling of organic products. | |||||
| More sustainably produced palmoil in food products | Core | Technical specification | Bread | ||
Criterion information The large-scale production of palm oil can entail serious risks for both people and the environment, such as deforestation and decreased biodiversity. The criterium contributes to improving the conditions for a transition towards a more sustainable cultivation of oil palm. Criterion text Palm oil and/or palm kernel oil, if it is contained in a product, shall be produced in such a way that, at a minimum, it covers the following:
It is adequate that the documentation of the traceability of the palm oil/palm kernel oil can be shown through a segregated supply chain (Identity Preserved or Segregated), or through mass balance, or through the principles for credits (Credits/Book and Claim) | |||||
| Information about origin of the raw material – plant products | Core | Technical specification | Bread | ||
Criterion information Transparency and traceability within the food supply chain is a prerequisite to being able to monitor both environmental requirements and social requirements within the supply chain. A requirement for information regarding the origin of raw material, along with the possibility for monitoring, ensures traceability for the contracting organisation. Criterion text For food products from vegetable raw material, information regarding the country(ies) of origin of the material(s) shall be available and can be presented upon request during the contract period, including any substitute items. Information regarding the raw material's country(ies) of origin shall contain:
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| More sustainably produced and segregated palm oil in food products | Advanced | Technical specification | Bread | ||
Criterion information The large-scale production of palm oil can entail serious risks for both people and the environment, such as deforestation and decreased biodiversity. The criterium contributes to an improved traceability and more sustainable cultivation of oil palm. Criterion text Palm oil and/or palm kernel oil, if included in the product, shall be produced in such a way that at least covers the following:
It is adequate that the documentation of the traceability of the palm oil/palm kernel oil can be shown through a segregated chain of custody (Identity Preserved or Segregated). | |||||
| GMO-free products | Core | Technical specification | Bread | ||
Criterion information Procuring authorities that have taken a stance against GMOs may consider requesting this. The environmental impact from genetically modified organisms has not yet been The use of genetically modified organisms (GMO) is not common in food products within the European market, rather they are primarily found in animal feed. Contracting organisations that have taken a stance against GMOs may consider requesting GMO-free products. Criterion text Products containing fruit and vegetables shall not consist of, contain, or have been created from genetically modified organisms (GMO). Traces of authorised GMO1 are permitted under the condition that they are unintentional or technically unavoidable, and that they do not constitute more than 0.9 per cent of each individual raw material in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 on genetically modified food and feed. | |||||
| EU-organic product | Core | Technical specification | Sugar and rice | ||
Criterion information Organic production promotes sustainable agriculture. Organic farming should respect nature's ecosystems and different natural cycles, and strive to maintain and improve the quality of soil, water, plant health and the health of animals. The balance between all elements is to be maintained and preferably improved. Criterion text Food products must be produced in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2018/848 of the European Parliament and of the Council on organic production and labelling of organic products. | |||||
| Information about origin compound products - plant products | Advanced | Technical specification | Bread | ||
Criterion information Information about origin can be enlightening for contracting authorities, e.g. which environmental laws applied to the production. Traceability is a prerequisite for being able to track any product defects and ensuring that the product meets the correct quality requirements. Criterion text For compound products with a raw material content of cereals, sugar, fruit, vegetables etc. of over 20% of the individual product, written information regarding where (crop land) the raw material is cultivated and processed must be provided on request. | |||||
| GMO-free product | Core | Technical specification | Bread | ||
Criterion information Procuring authorities that have taken a stance against GMOs may consider requesting this. The environmental impact from genetically modified organisms has not yet been conclusively determined. Food that contains GMOs must be labelled. Criterion text Products made of cereals and sugar must not contain GMOs in quantities that require labelling. 1 | |||||
| GMO-free products | Core | Technical specification | Sugar and rice | ||
Criterion information Procuring authorities that have taken a stance against GMOs may consider requesting this. The environmental impact from genetically modified organisms has not yet been The use of genetically modified organisms (GMO) is not common in food products within the European market, rather they are primarily found in animal feed. Contracting organisations that have taken a stance against GMOs may consider requesting GMO-free products. Criterion text Products containing fruit and vegetables shall not consist of, contain, or have been created from genetically modified organisms (GMO). Traces of authorised GMO1 are permitted under the condition that they are unintentional or technically unavoidable, and that they do not constitute more than 0.9 per cent of each individual raw material in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 on genetically modified food and feed. | |||||
| Socially responsible cultivation | Core | Special contract terms | Sugar and rice | ||
Criterion information Fruit and vegetables can have global supply chains. Globally there are large challenges connected to working conditions within agriculture. Therefore, it is important to specify requirements that protect workers rights within the agricultural operations from which products are purchased. Criterion text Raw materials consisting of fruit and/or vegetables that are supplied in accordance with the contract shall be cultivated under working conditions compatible with:
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| Information about origin of the raw material – plant products | Core | Technical specification | Sugar and rice | ||
Criterion information Transparency and traceability within the food supply chain is a prerequisite to being able to monitor both environmental requirements and social requirements within the supply chain. A requirement for information regarding the origin of raw material, along with the possibility for monitoring, ensures traceability for the contracting organisation. Criterion text For food products from vegetable raw material, information regarding the country(ies) of origin of the material(s) shall be available and can be presented upon request during the contract period, including any substitute items. Information regarding the raw material's country(ies) of origin shall contain:
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| Information about origin compound products - plant products | Advanced | Technical specification | Sugar and rice | ||
Criterion information Information about origin can be enlightening for contracting authorities, e.g. which environmental laws applied to the production. Traceability is a prerequisite for being able to track any product defects and ensuring that the product meets the correct quality requirements. Criterion text For compound products with a raw material content of cereals, sugar, fruit, vegetables etc. of over 20% of the individual product, written information regarding where (crop land) the raw material is cultivated and processed must be provided on request. | |||||
| GMO-free product | Core | Technical specification | Sugar and rice | ||
Criterion information Procuring authorities that have taken a stance against GMOs may consider requesting this. The environmental impact from genetically modified organisms has not yet been conclusively determined. Food that contains GMOs must be labelled. Criterion text Products made of cereals and sugar must not contain GMOs in quantities that require labelling. 1 | |||||
| GMO-free product | Core | Technical specification | Cereals and other grain products | ||
Criterion information Procuring authorities that have taken a stance against GMOs may consider requesting this. The environmental impact from genetically modified organisms has not yet been conclusively determined. Food that contains GMOs must be labelled. Criterion text Products made of cereals and sugar must not contain GMOs in quantities that require labelling. 1 | |||||
Cereals is a generic term for grains and are among our most common and important raw materials for food. The major cereals in the EU are wheat, maize and barley, which constitute about 90% of the total harvest. Rice is grown mainly in Asian countries, which account for 92% of the world's total production. Sugar is produced primarily from sugar beet and sugar cane. Sugar beet is grown in Sweden and the EU, among other places, while sugar cane is grown in warmer climates such as Brazil, India and Mexico.
Cereal products have a low environmental impact compared with meat and fish, in which the dominant greenhouse gases are carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide resulting from the use of fossil energy, transport, etc. and when nitrogen is put into the ground and from production of mineral fertilisers. Rice is grown primarily in water-covered, paddy fields that are either irrigated or supplied with rain water. Rice cultivation emits large amounts of methane gas and therefore has about three times as much climate impact as cereals.
In conventional farming of cereals and sugar, plant protection products are used. Plant protection products are used to protect plants and plant products against fungus attack, insects or competing plants. The use of plant protection products is regulated by common EU regulations. From 1 January 2014, all professional growers throughout the EU must apply Integrated Pest Management (IPM). The aim is to reduce reliance on chemical plant protection products.
Regarding the production of goods in low-wage countries, there is a risk of poor working conditions in cultivation. This applies to products such as sugar (from sugar cane) and rice, which are imported into Sweden. Contracting authorities can demand that suppliers ensure that basic working conditions are met.