As the Europe's largest manufacturing sector, with an annual turnover of over €1.2 trillion and a leading employer of 4.72 million people, the EU food and drink industry has over the past 10 years been working to make its supply chains deforestation-free. While progress has been made, the industry recognises it needs to accelerate the pace of change.

Growing challenges such as climate change, resource depletion, and malnutrition are affecting our sector and society alike. Today, in the context of the European Green Deal, we are determined more than ever to help address these global challenges by moving towards more sustainable food systems and implementing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

In this paper, we highlight how the food and drink industry is contributing to these objectives, while promoting sustainable and resilient food systems. We also make recommendations to ensure that the necessary conditions are in place for the food and drink industry to sustain its efforts and further contribute to combat and adapt to climate change.

In the context of the implementation of the Circular Economy Action Plan, FoodDrinkEurope would like to provide its views and recommendations for an ambitious implementation of the European Strategy for Plastics in a Circular Economy, made public in January 2018.