Brenntag Specialties Nutrition wins 'Sustainability Innovation of the Year Award' for plant-based cheese solution

Brenntag Specialties Nutrition has been named winner of the 'Sustainability Innovation of the Year Award' at the Saudi Food Manufacturing trade show, recognizing the company’s plant-based ingredient solution for soft spreadable cheese that offers significantly reduced carbon emissions.

The award-winning concept is a result of Brenntag’s focus on delivering sustainable, science-based innovations. Developed in partnership with Dutch ingredients supplier Avebe, the solution enables the production of creamy, spreadable plant-based cheese using sustainable potato-based thickeners. It also provides a robust nutritional profile with high protein content while dramatically reducing carbon output.

According to the company, the plant-based cheese formulation emits just 2.15kg of CO₂ equivalents per kilogram of product, in contrast to the 12.51kg CO₂e/kg associated with conventional dairy cheese. The data was benchmarked using CarbonCloud’s life cycle analysis and adheres to ISO 14067:2008 standards.

“This award for our plant-based soft cheese honors the work of the Brenntag Nutrition experts developing high-end ingredient solutions and at the same time supporting our sustainability promise,” commented Jerzy Jasiński, Global President, Brenntag Specialties Nutrition. “In technological development partnership with Avebe and together with our customers, we create a world where taste and environmental responsibility go hand in hand.”

The award-winning solution was developed using CO₂Xplorer, Brenntag’s proprietary tool for assessing the carbon footprint of food ingredients. Certified by TÜV Rheinland, the digital tool enables accurate product-level CO₂e measurements across the company’s portfolio. The platform was recently named 'Best Digital Innovation' at the ICIS Innovation Awards 2024.

Brenntag describes its sustainability strategy as a '360-degree' approach, spanning from ingredient sourcing and process optimization to digital tools that facilitate emissions tracking. The plant-based cheese solution presented at the Riyadh trade show reflects this ethos, combining ingredient functionality, consumer appeal, and environmental performance.

The product not only aligns with growing consumer demand for sustainable plant-based alternatives but also meets manufacturers’ increasing need for climate-conscious ingredient systems in line with ESG goals.

Avebe, a cooperative of Dutch potato growers, played a key role in supplying functional ingredients for the formulation. The potato-based thickeners contribute to the product’s creamy texture and stability without requiring animal-derived ingredients or synthetic additives.

By leveraging Avebe’s portfolio of clean-label starches and plant proteins, Brenntag was able to create a formulation that satisfies the taste and mouthfeel expectations of consumers while keeping the carbon footprint to a minimum.

The award at Saudi Food Manufacturing highlights Brenntag’s role as a solutions provider for the food industry as it navigates the transition toward more sustainable production systems. With demand for plant-based dairy alternatives projected to continue rising in global markets, the company’s ingredient systems are designed to meet both sensory expectations and environmental performance metrics.