The series of food systems through which we produce, consume, and dispose of large quantities of food is inextricably linked to a variety of social issues, including climate change, deforestation, and forced labor. Restaurants can be part of these problems or part of the solution, depending on what ingredients they choose. In addition, consumers who choose restaurants have traditionally evaluated restaurants based on taste and price, but they are also becoming increasingly conscious of environmental considerations.

When restaurants think about sustainability, many may wonder where to start working on it. In addition to restaurants choosing renewable energy and reducing food loss, there are many things that can be addressed in the relationships with the various stakeholders surrounding restaurants.

For example, with regard to the producers from whom we procure food, sustainability depends on the type of producer we choose, such as efforts to shorten the distance between production and consumption, which is called a short supply chain, choosing foodstuffs that are certified for sustainable production, and procuring meat and dairy products that take animal welfare into consideration. sustainability depends on the type of producer you choose.

In this article, we will introduce the certification systems that you should be aware of when procuring sustainable food ingredients in Japan.

1. certification system for fair trade

International Fair Trade Certification

The International Fairtrade Certified label indicates that the standards set by the International Fairtrade Label Organization are followed during the production, import/export, processing, and manufacturing of the product’s raw materials. Coffee accounts for a large portion of the Fairtrade certified product market, but cacao (the raw material for chocolate), cotton products, bananas, and spices are also on the rise. Other products include sugar, jam, honey, sesame, and wine.

Rainforest Alliance Certification

The Rainforest Alliance Certification Mark indicates that a product or specific raw material comes from a farm that meets the sustainable agriculture and farm management standards set by the Rainforest Alliance. It is mainly granted to products such as coffee, cacao, bananas, and tea.

2. certification system for sustainable agriculture, livestock, and fisheries

Organic JAS

The Organic JAS Mark indicates that the food has been inspected by a registered certification body authorized by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and is recognized as having been produced by the forces of nature without relying on pesticides, chemical fertilizers, or other chemical substances. The JAS Mark is mainly granted to agricultural products, processed foods, feedstuffs, and livestock products. It is prohibited by law to label agricultural products, processed foods, and livestock products that do not have the Organic JAS Mark with the name ” Organic” or “Organic”.

JGAP Certification

JGAP certification refers to farm management standards utilized by farms and producer organizations such as JA. It establishes various standards that lead to sustainable agriculture, such as pesticide and fertilizer management. For agricultural products, the standards cover food safety, occupational safety, environmental conservation, human rights and welfare, and other aspects of sustainable farm management. For livestock and livestock products, the standards cover food safety, livestock health (livestock hygiene), consideration for a comfortable rearing environment (animal welfare), and labor safety, which are all important for sustainable farm management. The standards cover food safety, animal health (livestock hygiene), animal welfare, worker safety, and environmental conservation, all of which are important for sustainable farm management.

MSC Certification

MSC certification is a global certification program by the Marine Stewardship Council MSC, a non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion of sustainable fishing. natural seafood caught in MSC-certified fisheries can display the MSC label, known as the “marine ecolabel.

ASC Certification

ASC certification is a worldwide certification system by the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC), a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting responsible aquaculture products, under which seafood raised on ASC-certified farms can display the ASC label, known as the “marine ecolabel.

3. certification systems for vegetarian and vegan

Vegetarian Certification

Indicates that the ingredients do not contain meat, fish, seafood, insects, or other materials derived from them.

Vegan Certification

It indicates that the ingredients do not contain meat, fish, seafood, eggs, dairy products, honey, or other items derived from animals. In addition to products, there is also a certification for restaurants, which grants the vegan/vegetarian-friendly mark to restaurants that have a selection of vegetarian dishes, including vegan options, on the main menu of the restaurant.

In this issue, we introduced fair trade, sustainable production, and plant-based certification, respectively. As interest in sustainability grows in recent years, especially among millennials, it seems that consumers are beginning to take root in their purchasing behavior, as well as in their awareness that “shopping is voting. In order for restaurants to conduct sustainable management in the future, it is recommended that they start by reviewing the environment in which the ingredients they procure are produced and whether their production methods are sustainable, regardless of the certification systems introduced in this report.

[Reference Site] Fairtrade Labels Japan, a non-profit organization
[Reference Site] Rainforest Alliance
[Reference Site] Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
[Reference Site] Japan GAP Association
[Reference Site] Marine Stewardship Council
[Reference Site] Aquaculture Stewardship Council
[Reference Site] Non-profit organization Vegi Project Japan