Month: February 2024

Welcome to the 15th edition of the Tetra Pak Index, which focuses on what consumers see as the future of health and nutrition. Having experienced an unprecedented global pandemic, today’s consumers are more focused on health than ever, and are more demanding of their food and beverages. At the same time, the industry is investing heavily to meet their evolving needs and capture the opportunities they present, while also addressing the pressing sustainability challenges. As a result, we are now in an exciting phase, with a number of promising technologies generating ‘new food’ innovations like never before.

Modern consumers are quite well-aware of the changes going on around them. They see technology as key to a healthier, more sustainable and more equitable future. But there are concerns to be navigated, with some becoming wary of innovation, desiring products that are as natural as possible.

Interest in preventive health measures and holistic wellness continues to be strong, driving appetite for healthy products and those with specific benefits, notably immunity boosters. Mental health is a major focus: three-quarters of consumers now say that it’s as important as physical health – and more than four in five choose products to support it.

In general, consumers are paying far more attention to what they eat and drink – and are feeling better as a result. Sugar is the number one food concern, with consumers, regulators and industry all taking steps to reduce its consumption. Personalisation is on the rise, as brands invest heavily in tailored solutions for narrower consumer groups, particularly around age and medical conditions. There are exciting possibilities for probiotics products – also known as functional foods – that may help to reduce the risk of serious illnesses, such as cancer and Alzheimer.

Value and price are paramount, as consumers everywhere struggle with the cost-of-living crisis. Many worry that this will limit their access to healthy food, but they are determined not to give this up. There is continued high interest in organic and natural food, and almost half of consumers now strive to be flexitarian or to exclude meat altogether. While in some cases, higher price points have cooled the demand for plant-based protein alternatives, the longer-term forecasts for such products remain strong.

Climate change and other environmental issues continue to be pressing concerns and are increasingly interlinked with health. Two-thirds of consumers now say that environmental factors impact health, and even more believe that healthy products should not harm the environment. Packaging is part of the picture: sustainable products should go in sustainable packages – such as those that use renewable and/or recycled materials with a low carbon impact, are recyclable and help reduce food waste. Many believe that the food and beverage choices they make can result in a positive difference; more than half say that by changing their diet they can contribute to a better world.

In many parts of the world, people still rely on products such as milk and juices for their daily nutrition, so it is critical to optimise their value chain with innovations in sourcing, packaging, processing and distribution, which is where we have been playing an active role together with our customers and suppliers.

In addition, considering that the world will need 60% more food by 2050, we need to complement these efforts through technologies that can help explore new sources of nutrition – ranging from new plant-based sources to alternative proteins produced with biomass and precision fermentation. Both these areas are critical to contribute towards food system1 sustainability.

For decades, we have been working towards building resilient and sustainable food value chains that improve livelihoods, reduce environmental impact, and ultimately, help provide healthy diets to the global community. Our latest Index shows plenty of examples of our recent work, including how we reduce food waste and climate impact; converting low-value side streams from food production into new ingredients; alternative protein; fermentation-derived proteins; and collaborations with start-ups that are providing technological solutions to some of the issues affecting global food systems today.

All this is part of our commitment to the future – and to our long-standing purpose: “We commit to making food safe and available, everywhere. And we promise to protect what’s good: food, people and the planet.”

Explore the latest Tetra Pak Index report⁠.

 

1 The term ‘food systems’ refers to all the elements and activities related to producing and consuming food, and their effects, including economic, health, and environmental outcomes (OECD, https://www.oecd.org/food-systems, 2023)

Jeana Plews humbly and enthusiastically acts as a catalyst for positive change at CACI. As Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), she is diligently committed to creating an environment where every employee feels valued, heard, and empowered to grow.

Championing and advancing diversity and inclusion has always been her passion. “Sometimes you just get lucky and favor is on your side,” Plews said. “I went to college not knowing what field I wanted to go into, but my passion for people has endured as well as my drive to help us understand our differences and similarities.”

This fervor for humanity brought Plews to CACI’s Human Resources division more than two decades ago.

“When I started in HR, I knew I’d found my calling. I had an opportunity to do rotational assignments to learn about the different functions within HR, and with each rotation, my enthusiasm grew.”

Plews started as a technical recruiter. Over the years, she has served in a range of capacities of increasing responsibility supporting CACI’s employees around the country as senior HR Business Partner Manager to serving as HR Director for the company’s corporate functions. Each experience has prepared Plews for her current role as the driving force behind the transformative power of inclusion at CACI.

Plews ensures that CACI’s programs, processes, and practices are aligned to CACI’s DEI strategy, enabling progress at every level of the organization. She has helped to develop and advance the company’s seven employee resource groups (ERGs) that provide a safe space for employee engagement while offering mentorship, networking, professional development, and leadership opportunities.

“I’m incredibly proud of the tireless efforts of the talented employees who give beyond their day-to-day responsibilities in leading the ERGs with such passion for creating a sense of community,” she said.

Plews has a deep affinity for CACI’s culture, which consistently offers opportunities conducive to professional growth and mobility. By providing exposure to new projects, programs, and challenges, the company allows employees to break new ground and reach new heights in their careers.

“Encouraging and prompting growth for internal talent has always been part of CACI’s culture,” Plews said. “I’ve had the good fortune of working for some of the best leaders who have poured into me professionally and pushed me to grow. I am beyond grateful for the position it has led me to today.”

CACI offers challenging, rewarding work that aligns employees with their skills today and their ambitions for tomorrow.

“I’ve been motivated to stay with CACI for the same reasons I was first drawn to the company,” she said. “We are a purpose-driven company with a soul; we genuinely care about our people and your potential here is limitless.”

Explore current job openings a CACI.

ABOUT CACI

At CACI International Inc (NYSE: CACI), our 23,000 talented and dynamic employees are ever vigilant in delivering distinctive expertise and differentiated technology to meet our customers’ greatest challenges in national security and government modernization. We are a company of good character, relentless innovation, and long-standing excellence. Our culture drives our success and earns us recognition as a Fortune World’s Most Admired Company. CACI is a member of the Fortune 1000 Largest Companies, the Russell 1000 Index, and the S&P MidCap 400 Index. For more information, visit us at caci.com.

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Corporate Communications and Media: 
Lorraine Corcoran 
Executive Vice President, Corporate Communications 
(703) 434-4165, lorraine.corcoran@caci.com

As an organization with an international footprint, Covia believes it’s critical to invest in each of the many diverse communities that we live and work in. We are committed to driving positive change through companywide initiatives that empower Team Members to follow their passion for engagement. By giving back to the organizations that matter most to them, Team Members can put their time, energy, and financial support toward making their communities a better place. Through The Covia Foundation, our company’s philanthropic arm, we continue to launch new initiatives that create opportunities to support our Team Members’ generosity. In 2023, the Covia Foundation distributed over $1 million, supporting education, the environment, social equality, and health and wellness initiatives in our communities. We also saw a notable increase in the efforts from Team Members who are going into their own communities to support causes that matter to them. From volunteer firefighters and little league coaches to college mentors and event organizers – our Team Members are bringing Covia’s ESG Values into their neighborhoods.

Investing in Community

With hundreds of communities in which we live and work, we believe the best way to make a positive change is to empower the Team Members who live in those areas. Through the Covia Community Investment Policy, Team Members can double the impact of their gifts with a match of up to $1,000 each year. They can also earn grant money for the charity of their choice for every 20 hours of volunteer time, and create other opportunities to invest in their passions. Every year, our Team Members spend a significant amount of time helping others. In 2023 alone, they collectively spent over 12,500 hours volunteering in their communities for causes they love. Twenty-five Team Members went above and beyond, volunteering over 200 hours each with organizations of their choice. The number of Team Members who reach this milestone has grown considerably since we launched the President’s Volunteer Service Award – a program that recognizes individuals who spend over 200 hours a year volunteering. Several Team Members have earned recognition outside of Covia for their stellar volunteer efforts. For example, Scott Tincher, Director of Taxation, was recently recognized by College Now as the 2023 Volunteer of the Year for his work mentoring a first-generation college student in Ohio. From personal service projects and paid volunteer hours to record participation in Covia Cares Action Days across our footprint, we are proud of the growing number of Team Members who answer the call to make their communities a better place.

Covia Cares Action Days

In addition to individual volunteering efforts, our community outreach efforts through our Covia Cares Action Days continued to grow over the past year. These Action Days were created to encourage Covia facilities to plan local volunteer activities in their communities. Covia facilities mobilized for 34 Action Days in 2023, an increase from the previous year as participating plants expanded their efforts and new locations joined the effort. The combined initiatives led to more than 1,000 volunteer hours, with efforts ranging from stuffing teddy bears to participating in a walk for cancer.

Stories that Inspire: Teddy Bear Delivery

Team Members at the Covia Headquarters in Independence, Ohio, brought in unstuffed teddy bears that they assembled to send to children at UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital as well as nonprofits United Way, Cornerstone of Hope, and A Kid Again. While this was originally planned as a Covia Cares Action “Day”, it turned into a three-week project where Team Members stuffed nearly 400 teddy bears. Visiting Team Members from Covia Mexico stopped by the office during that period and ended up lending a helping hand. The team from Mexico was so inspired that they took the idea to their plants and stuffed even more teddy bears for charities and hospitals in their area.

Stories that Inspire: Lymphoma & Leukemia Light the Night Walk

In October 2023, Team Members from Covia’s Tuscaloosa Plant gathered to participate in the annual Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) ‘Light the Night’ walk in Birmingham, Alabama, to celebrate and remember those affected by blood cancers. Gina Laney, the location’s office administrator, planned and organized the walk for the plant, helping to raise nearly $3,000 for blood cancer research. Team Members at the plant joined the walk to support Gina, a Hodgkin’s lymphoma cancer survivor. This moving event lit up Railroad Park to honor those battling blood cancers. Gold signified remembrance, red was for supporters, and white was for survivors. It was a beautiful and impactful night that attendees won’t soon forget. 

A Community Approach

We are incredibly grateful for the generous giving and volunteer spirit of our Team Members. They continue to inspire us as they give back and spread Covia’s values to their communities. Thanks to the hard work of our partners and communities across the globe, we can make a serious impact through our time and resources. Covia is always looking for talented individuals to join our incredible team. If you are looking for an organization that shares your passion for giving back, consider checking out our careers page to find an opportunity near you.

Click here to learn more about the Covia Foundation.