Abstract
Background & Objectives:
Sustainability in the food industry has evolved from early conservation efforts in the 1700s to complex systems shaped by environmental, social, and economic imperatives (Table 1). Despite its central role in SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, existing literature often lacks conceptual clarity and food-specific theoretical frameworks. This study addresses this gap by mapping the historical evolution of sustainability communication in the global food sector, examining shifts in definitions, practices, and narratives, and exploring tensions between profitability, ethics, and sustainable decision-making, with the aim of developing a historically grounded sustainability communication framework aligned with SDG 12.
Methods:
A historiometric analysis of five multinational corporations—Nestlé (Switzerland, 1866), Unilever (UK/Netherlands, 1929), Coca-Cola Company (USA, 1886), Danone (France, 1919), and General Mills (USA, 1856)—was conducted. Data sources include corporate communications (annual reports, sustainability reports, advertising campaigns, press releases), historical archives, and regulatory documents. Quantitative content analysis was applied using a coding schema based on established sustainability frameworks, encompassing environmental, social, economic, and governance dimensions, plus communication strategies and SDG 12 target-specific indicators.
Results:
Findings indicate that early approaches centred on resource conservation, while contemporary practices in food industry emphasise branding, consumer health, environmental protection, and social equity. Corporations exhibit both genuine commitment to sustainable innovation and reliance on symbolic communication, reflecting ongoing tensions between market imperatives and ethical responsibility. Results are presented in alignment with SDG 12, offering a framework that integrates sustainable consumption and production, waste/resource indicators, sustainable procurement, reporting and communication metrics.
Conclusions:
This study advances conceptual clarity in sustainability communication for the food sector. Findings offer actionable insights for corporate strategy, consumer engagement, and policy development, providing a historically grounded, practical framework to advance SDG 12 and support global sustainability transitions.
Sustainability in the food industry has evolved from early conservation efforts in the 1700s to complex systems shaped by environmental, social, and economic imperatives (Table 1). Despite its central role in SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, existing literature often lacks conceptual clarity and food-specific theoretical frameworks. This study addresses this gap by mapping the historical evolution of sustainability communication in the global food sector, examining shifts in definitions, practices, and narratives, and exploring tensions between profitability, ethics, and sustainable decision-making, with the aim of developing a historically grounded sustainability communication framework aligned with SDG 12.
Methods:
A historiometric analysis of five multinational corporations—Nestlé (Switzerland, 1866), Unilever (UK/Netherlands, 1929), Coca-Cola Company (USA, 1886), Danone (France, 1919), and General Mills (USA, 1856)—was conducted. Data sources include corporate communications (annual reports, sustainability reports, advertising campaigns, press releases), historical archives, and regulatory documents. Quantitative content analysis was applied using a coding schema based on established sustainability frameworks, encompassing environmental, social, economic, and governance dimensions, plus communication strategies and SDG 12 target-specific indicators.
Results:
Findings indicate that early approaches centred on resource conservation, while contemporary practices in food industry emphasise branding, consumer health, environmental protection, and social equity. Corporations exhibit both genuine commitment to sustainable innovation and reliance on symbolic communication, reflecting ongoing tensions between market imperatives and ethical responsibility. Results are presented in alignment with SDG 12, offering a framework that integrates sustainable consumption and production, waste/resource indicators, sustainable procurement, reporting and communication metrics.
Conclusions:
This study advances conceptual clarity in sustainability communication for the food sector. Findings offer actionable insights for corporate strategy, consumer engagement, and policy development, providing a historically grounded, practical framework to advance SDG 12 and support global sustainability transitions.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Publication status | Published - 10 Dec 2025 |
| Event | The 11th International Summit on Food, Nutrition and Health: Target 2030: Food and Nutrition Policy: From Human to Planetary Health - Dundee, United Kingdom Duration: 10 Dec 2025 → 13 Dec 2025 Conference number: 11 https://www.nnedpro.org.uk/summit |
Conference
| Conference | The 11th International Summit on Food, Nutrition and Health |
|---|---|
| Country/Territory | United Kingdom |
| City | Dundee |
| Period | 10/12/25 → 13/12/25 |
| Internet address |
