Webinar: Practical steps for NFA exporters going green
Going green is no longer just a trend in Europe: It is becoming a market requirement more and more. European food manufacturers are under growing pressure from consumers, retailers, and regulators. They must reduce their environmental impact, improve transparency, and source ingredients responsibly.
For exporters of natural food additives (NFA) in low- and middle-income countries, this requirement presents both challenges and opportunities. Exporters must understand what adopting a green approach, or going green, truly means for European buyers. It is also important to know how you can use sustainability in your business to remain competitive and future-proof your company.
During this CBI webinar, experts offer practical guidance, tools, and real-world examples to help exporters make concrete progress towards greener production, sourcing and market positioning.
We will address the following questions:
- What does going green mean in the context of the European food ingredients market?
- Which sustainability expectations are most relevant for natural food additives exporters?
- How can companies improve their environmental and social impact in a realistic and step-by-step way?
- Which tools, certifications and standards matter most to European buyers?
- How can exporters effectively communicate their sustainability credentials without falling into greenwashing?
- How can going green strengthen competitiveness, trust, and long-term partnerships?
For whom?
This webinar is for exporters and business support organisations active in the natural food additives sector. That includes producers and suppliers of natural colours, natural flavours and extracts, sweeteners, preservatives and other natural ingredients.
Agenda
| 15:00 – 15:10 CET | Introduction |
| 15:10 – 15:15 CET | Setting the context: |
| - The importance for the European market | |
| - Short overview of the most important sustainability factors and trends in natural ingredients for food additives | |
| 15:15 – 15:50 CET | Conversation with the experts |
| 15:50 – 16:00 CET | Q&A |
Presenters
Bert-Jan Ottens and Gustavo Ferro will host this webinar.
Bert-Jan Ottens
Bert-Jan is the founder of ProFound – Advisers In Development and Senior Adviser. He also founded Blue Rhino (rural finance) and Green Rhino Kenya (‘Healthy Green Choice’). He has a background in international economic development, and policy and management studies of developing countries.
Bert-Jan brings different groups together to make supply chains sustainable and transparent. He designs BioTrade programmes that protect nature and help people earn a living. He also sets up financial plans to support farmers and small businesses in rural areas.
He has over 25 years of experience in developing innovative products and tools. He works with large organisations, private sector actors and sustainability initiatives such as RVO and CBI; UNCTAD BioTrade; SECO and SIPPO; UNDP; World Bank; FAO; IFAD; FairWild Foundation and so on.
Gustavo Ferro
Gustavo is part of a team of experts of ProFound- Advisers In Development, which writes CBI’s Market Studies on Natural Ingredients.
He has over 18 years of experience and collaborates on natural ingredient projects. He carries out research for organisations such as CBI; SIPPO; IPD; OTGS; UNIDO; GIZ UNDP; World Bank; Swisscontact and so on.
Next to working directly with exporters, Gustavo supports organisations and institutions active in the natural ingredients sector. His work spans Latin America, North and Southern Africa, and South and Southeast Asia.
We will announce our guest speaker(s) soon.
Register
Join us for this webinar on Thursday 26 February 2026 at 15:00 CET.
More information
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