Novel ingredients are still on the menu for Nutreco

Feed producer Nutreco has reaffirmed its commitment to the use of novel ingredients, despite falling significantly short of an ambitious 2020 target of between 5% and 10% inclusion by 2025.

Skretting, Nutreco’s aquafeed business unit, achieved 1.5% inclusion, and Trouw Nutrition, the company’s terrestrial farm animal and pet food unit, achieved just 0.3% in the five-year period.

“Novel ingredients continue to be an important part of our pathway to meeting the future demand for protein sustainably. They offer alternatives to diversify nutrient sources, reduce dependency on finite resources, and build more resilient supply chains,” Netherlands-headquartered Nutreco writes in its impact report published today.

Bold ambition

“In 2020, we set a bold ambition, which was presented in our RoadMap 2025, of 5-10% inclusion of novel ingredients in our feeds. This ambition was based on the limited data available at the time and reflected the early, emerging nature of these technologies.

“As with most new industries, the learning curve has been steep, and the experience we have gained has revealed both opportunities and constraints that help us navigate the path forward.”

Nutreco says it has learned that meaningful progress depends on more than increasing volumes.

Different qualities

“Novel ingredients differ widely in their sustainability performance: some have already demonstrated the ability to reduce the carbon footprint of products in a clear and measurable way, while others offer value in different areas – such as supply chain resilience or nutritional functionality – but do not necessarily lower emissions today.

“This is why we take a holistic approach, assessing each ingredient on its full environmental profile rather than assuming all novel solutions deliver the same benefits.”

Nutreco concludes: “We remain strongly committed to advancing novel ingredients as part of our long-term solution for sustainable growth in animal nutrition.”

Progress on packaging

Nutreco, which employs more than 11,000 people worldwide, including 1,003 in its salmon feed operation, has come closer to meeting its targets in other areas, such as its aim to use 100% recyclable, reusable, or compostable packaging by 2025.

Skretting has reached 96% and Trouw 85%. Most of the packaging that doesn’t meet Nutreco’s sustainability criteria is used for products classified as dangerous goods (substances harmful to the environment).

“These products must comply with strict UN packaging regulations, which require enhanced coatings for safety. These coatings limit recyclability, and, at present, specifications cannot be adjusted. However, our suppliers are actively working on solutions that would allow such coatings to become recyclable,” writes Nutreco.

No alternatives

“The other reason we did not hit our 100% target in 2025 is that we are often required to use non-mono material bags for products that are extremely sensitive to humidity.

“These formats use additional barrier layers (such as aluminium or PET), and suitable recyclable alternatives are not yet available on the market.”

The company will continue seeking alternative packaging, and is reducing material use by, among other things, shifting from packed to bulk deliveries. This is something Skretting Chile has carried out in collaboration with Mowi Chile at the fish farmer’s Rauco freshwater site in Chiloé. The plan is to expand such deliveries to Mowi’s other hatcheries in Chile.

Marine ingredients

Skretting has increased the share of marine ingredients sourced from certified fisheries or fisheries engaged in improvement projects, rising from 75% in 2020 to 88% in 2025, while also increasing the use of by-products.

Several factors contributed to the company not achieving 100%, says Nutreco.

"Certification programmes have a relatively weak presence in some regions, particularly in parts of Asia and Africa. In addition, fewer FIPs (fisheries improvement projects) reached certification than anticipated, and some important pelagic fisheries temporarily lost certification due to the absence of international agreements on fisheries management."

Skretting will place particular focus on improving sourcing performance in regions where certification coverage remains limited. This includes working more closely with fisheries, marine ingredient producers, and other stakeholders to strengthen sustainability across the marine ingredient value chain.

Soy and palm oil

Sourcing 100% deforestation-free soy and palm oil has been difficult for Nutreco. By 2025, only 38% of those ingredients sourced by Skretting and 41% sourced by Trouw were guaranteed deforestation-free.

“This area remains complex, and we have faced challenges, such as traceability gaps, uneven supplier readiness, and varying levels of monitoring infrastructure. While we acknowledge this shortfall, we remain firmly committed to eliminating deforestation and conversion from our supply chains – in cooperation with our suppliers, customers and partners – and are taking concrete steps forward,” writes Nutreco.

“In line with emerging regulatory requirements and best-practice frameworks, companies are expected to accelerate their actions in this area, including by strengthening traceability, improving monitoring tools and engaging more deeply with suppliers – areas that we have prioritised as part of our ongoing work to close the remaining gaps.”

Level playing field

The company says European Union rules that forbid the import, export, or placement on the EU market of products that may originate from deforested land will enter into force on December 30, 2026.

“We see this regulation as a strategic way to create a level playing field within the EU for sustainable soya, palm and wood products that will have an important impact on worldwide deforestation,” writes Nutreco.

“We are preparing for compliance by the indicated date, while existing (voluntary) deforestation-free commitments will remain in place.

“We will purchase only from operators that have performed a full due diligence on the marketed materials to minimise the risks of deforestation after the cut-off date. In cases where we will trade relevant products, such as bypass fat from palm oil, in the EU, they will also comply with certain provisions from the EU deforestation regulation.”