Dive Brief:
- Post Holdings’ Michael Foods is partnering with Do Good Foods to supply verified carbon-reduced eggs starting in 2023 at foodservice locations across the U.S., the companies said in a statement.
- Each Michael Foods customer purchasing Do Good Eggs will get a monthly “carbon receipt” quantifying the impact their company has made on climate change. Each dozen eggs will prevent approximately one pound of greenhouse gas emissions from entering the atmosphere, the companies estimated.
- Food manufacturers are expanding their portfolios to include products with lower environmental footprints as consumers increasingly look for these offerings when considering which products to buy.
Dive Insight:
While Michael Foods may not be a household name among most U.S. consumers, it’s a major player in the egg industry. As a result of the Post subsidiary’s position as the largest supplier of egg products to foodservice establishments, it’s in a prime position to have a meaningful impact on any changes that take place in the sector.
“This partnership gives us the capability to bring our customers a truly sustainable solution without having to compromise on the nutrition, flavor or convenience of our eggs,” Mark Westphal, president of Michael Foods, said in a statement. “Consumers and corporations alike are craving real change and now our eggs, in partnership with Do Good Eggs, can support the movement toward bettering our planet.”
The eggs will likely not only benefit the environment but Post, too.
Michael Foods’ ability to supply eggs that limit greenhouse gas emissions, and provide the buyer with a receipt to prove their impact, will give it another tool to attract consumers. A hotel, restaurant or other location could turn to Michael Foods for the first time because they now offer the carbon-reduced eggs, or purchase them to supplement their existing business.
Foodservice companies also would be drawn to these eggs because they would allow them to reduce their scope 3 carbon emissions — defined as indirect emissions from across a company’s supply and value chain — while appealing to consumers who want to purchase products that are better for the planet.
It’s not the first partnership for Post when it comes to products with a gentler and more impactful environmental footprint. Last year, its Bright Future Foods subsidiary partnered with EverGrain, a sustainable ingredients company backed by Anheuser-Busch, to create sustainable and “climate-positive” snacks — meaning they have a negative carbon footprint.
The egg is among the most popular and nutritious proteins around the world. In the U.S. alone, the average person is expected to consume 288.1 eggs this year, compared to 286.5 in 2020, according to Statista. With high demand, it’s a logical target to make inroads against climate change.
Post is just the latest food maker to tie egg production to the environment. In August, pasture-raised egg producer Vital Farms launched Restorative eggs produced from chickens raised on pastures using regenerative agriculture practices such as cover crops and perennial rotations. Other eggs have debuted on the market with regenerative certifications.
Do Good Foods, which describes itself as a “climate-forward food solutions company” that upcycles surplus grocery food into nutrient-dense animal feed, said the partnership with Michael Foods is a step to fight food waste and combat climate change. The opportunity to add a large and influential company such as Post to the mix immediately boosts the momentum and credibility of Do Good’s initiatives.
