Study on commitments pledged under the EU code of conduct on responsible food business and marketing practices : report 2023

The EU Code of Conduct on Responsible Food Business and Marketing Practices sets out the actions that actors in the food industry can voluntarily commit to undertake to improve and communicate their sustainability performance. The Code includes seven aspirational objectives, each with specific targets and indicative, tangible, and measurable actions. This study, commissioned by the European Commission to Ipsos in mid-2022, aimed to review and map the commitments made under the Code, to identify the extent to which these align with the aspirational objectives, and to develop a detailed understanding of the different signatories and their characteristics. The study mapped the 136 Code signatories by their type, size, sectors, and geographical scope. It also mapped all 524 commitments made by signatory companies against the Code aspirational objectives, a range of thematic categories, and the extent to which they have defined specific targets and goals. Finally, it reviewed the reports signatories are obliged to submit annually, to explore if and how they report on the progress made against their set commitments. Based on this, the study made broadly positive conclusions on the level and relevance of activity under the Code, but also identified areas where room for improvement remains.