4 minute read
A new sustainable future for product development
ALISTAIR TRAIL, PRINCIPAL CONSULTANT AND MORAG HAMILTON, NEW PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT CHEF, SAC CONSULTING
As consumer demand increasingly shifts toward responsible consumption, sustainable new product development (NPD) is no longer a niche concern but a core driver of brand success. From traditional distilleries and artisanal producers to global food exporters, Scottish businesses are recognising that long-term growth depends on the ability to innovate sustainably. Today’s consumers, both local and international, want more than premium taste; they demand environmental responsibility, transparency, and traceability.
In the younger demographics, buyers are increasingly choosing brands that align with their personal values. Whether it is plant-based food, low-carbon packaging, or regenerative farming, decisions are driven by more than price and flavour. Research consistently shows that sustainability is influencing purchasing decisions more than ever.
According to Zero Waste Scotland, 65% of Scots say they try to buy products with less environmental impact.
For Scottish producers, this presents both a challenge and a golden opportunity.
Sustainable NPD goes beyond creating something new – it is about doing it better, cleaner, and smarter. It involves developing food and drink products with minimal environmental impact, ethical sourcing, low waste, and high transparency. NPD is the engine of growth for the food and drink sector, but sustainable NPD takes it a step further, embedding environmental social, and ethical considerations into every stage of the development cycle.
This includes:
• Sourcing sustainably: Using local, seasonal, and regenerative agriculture to reduce emissions and support biodiversity.
• Eco-design: Creating packaging that is recyclable, compostable or reusable to minimise plastic waste.
• Energy efficiency: Implementing carbon-saving practices across manufacturing and logistics.
• Waste reduction: Designing circular product lifecycles that eliminate waste and valorise by-products.
NPD by promoting resource efficiency, minimising waste and creating new innovative food products from by-products or under-utilised raw materials.
At SAC Consulting, we specialise in sustainable NPD for Scotland’s food and drink sector helping brands transform bold ideas into successful market-ready products that are future-fit, environmentally responsible, and commercially viable. We have supported many forward-thinking Scottish brands through their sustainability journeys. A few recent highlights of how we have used circular economy principles to support businesses with sustainable NPD include: it is a strategic advantage. Businesses that embed sustainability into NPD often benefit from:
• Transforming soft fruit waste into unique culinary delights: An Aberdeenshire soft fruit grower worked with us to repurpose surplus strawberries and raspberries into value-added products. This included a range of fruit vinegars - offering a local alternative to balsamic for salads - as well as a shelf-stable strawberry tart jelly which is perfect for cakes, scones, and pancakes.
• Tepache - a naturally fermented pineapple drink: Tepache is a refreshing, lightly sparkling beverage made using the often overlooked by-product of the tinned pineapple industry. By fermenting pineapple skins with raw cane sugar, we created a refreshing beverage that is as sustainable as it is flavourful.
• Buttermilk - from waste product to high end sauce: Traditionally used as animal feed, buttermilk (a by-product of butter making) is being reimagined. We are currently developing a range of savoury and sweet sauces using this ingredient, providing our client with premium, flavour-rich products suitable for farm shops or high-quality ready meals.
• Higher margins for premium ethical products
• Increased brand trust and loyalty
• New export potential to climate-conscious global markets
• Improved resilience against regulatory and climate risks
• Access to investment from ESG-focused funds
Sustainable NPD can also play a crucial role in food and drink marketing by aligning innovation with growing consumer demand for environmentally responsible choices. Marketing these sustainable innovations effectively, to highlight transparency, traceability and impact, builds brand trust and loyalty. Furthermore, sustainable NPD allows brands to tap into emerging trends such as plant-based diets, zero-waste initiatives, and circular economy practices, positioning them as forward-thinking leaders in the food and drink industry.
Sustainable product innovation is no longer a nice-to-have - it is what defines successful brands. Whether you are looking to reformulate an existing product, explore a new category or launch a fully sustainable brand from scratch, we are ready to help you make it happen. Let us help put your vision into action and bring to market food and drink products that are good for people, the planet, and your bottom line.
