Consumer information

Educate consumers about the sustainability of their food

The scientific indicators provided by AGRIBALYSE® are complex to interpret for users unfamiliar with the Life Cycle Assessment methodology. They are therefore not directly usable for communication with the general public, but they can be used within the framework of environmental labelling. Work is currently underway on this topic.

In the specific context of consumer information, it is not recommended to use Agribalyse indicators (nor Climate Change score alone, neither EF single score)! For more information, please refer to the website dedicated to environmental labelling: https://affichage-environnemental.ademe.fr/en/food-sector/food-and-environnement

Environmental communication is governed by standards

Environmental communication and data from Life Cycle Analyses are governed by ISO 14020/14040 standards. In terms of communication, these standards set out the main principles, with information having to be: relevant, accurate and verifiable.

The methods of communication are also distinguished: official labels, self-declaration and eco-profiles. Comparisons between competing products require precise information: external critical reviews, reports in accessible ‘standard’ formats, etc.

All stakeholders wishing to implement environmental communication based on AGRIBALYSE® and/or complementary data are invited to refer to the best practices presented in these standards.

Environmental labelling of food products, a complex issue, an ongoing experiment

Considerations regarding the calculation of environmental scores for environmental labelling intended for consumers are being conducted outside the AGRIBALYSE programme. These considerations include parameters that go beyond the scope of life cycle assessments. This work draws on AGRIBALYSE data, but also on other complementary information.

Stakeholders wishing to participate in discussions on the implementation of environmental labelling in France are invited to follow the work currently being carried out by the Ministry for the Ecological and Solidarity Transition with the support of ADEME: https://affichage-environnemental.ademe.fr/en/food-sector/food-and-environnement

Follow the LIFE ECO FOOD CHOICE project, about harmonizaing ecolabellinf of food products around Europe : https://affichage-environnemental.ademe.fr/en/food-sector/life-eco-food-choice-project

The use of AGRIBALYSE® data for consumer information

Various tools designed to improve menus and recipes in the catering and commercial catering sectors use AGRIBALYSE®. These tools can also be used to provide information to consumers.

As with consumer information, it is recommended that those involved in collective and commercial catering refer to the environmental cost that can be calculated using the Ecobalyse tool developed by the Ministry for Ecological Transition, which takes into account additional data from AGRIBALYSE.

Note that English version of Ecobalyse is under development.