Oterra is introducing ingredient carbon footprint tracking through a partnership with HowGood, helping food and beverage manufacturers better understand emissions associated with naturally sourced colors. The collaboration combines Oterra's existing supply chain information with HowGood's sustainability intelligence platform to calculate Product Carbon Footprints for selected ingredients. These measurements provide product-specific emissions data, allowing customers to evaluate the environmental impact of purchased ingredients and support Scope 3 reporting.
The partnership could help manufacturers identify opportunities to reduce supply chain emissions and make more informed sourcing decisions. For Oterra, the collaboration strengthens its 2030 Sustainability Strategy by improving transparency and supporting emissions reduction efforts across its operations and suppliers. HowGood also expands the application of its carbon measurement capabilities within the natural color industry, helping companies address growing expectations for detailed environmental reporting.
Image Credit: Oterra and HowGood
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Ingredient-level Carbon Intelligence
- Granular emissions data across specific food components creates room for differentiated procurement platforms that compare sustainability impacts alongside performance, cost, and availability.
- Scope 3 Supply Chain Transparency
- Rising reporting pressure is expanding demand for verified supplier emissions tools that translate complex upstream data into usable sustainability metrics for manufacturers.
- Sustainable Natural Color Sourcing
- Natural color ingredients are becoming a proving ground for traceable low-carbon inputs, where environmental credentials can influence formulation decisions and brand positioning.
Where This Applies
- Food and Beverage Manufacturing
- Product-specific footprint measurement can reshape ingredient sourcing by embedding carbon visibility into formulation, compliance, and supplier selection workflows.
- Sustainability Data Platforms
- Specialized analytics providers have an opening to build category-specific carbon databases that improve accuracy for complex ingredient supply chains.
- Natural Ingredient Production
- Producers of plant-based colors and additives can use verified emissions profiles to distinguish offerings in markets increasingly driven by transparency and climate accountability.
