Deoleo Taps Blockchain-Based QR Codes in Traceability Push
Olive oil manufacturer Deoleo hopes to advance its sustainable sourcing goals with the help of QR codes.
The company is bringing to market new SKUs under its Bertolli and Carapelli brands that lean heavily into the company’s sustainability pledges. As part of this, it’s teaming with IBM to leverage the solution provider’s Food Trust blockchain-based QR code technology — featuring the code on the Carapelli 100% Italian SKU. Upon scanning, consumers can trace the journey of the olive oil to verify origin and quality.
Other SKUs in the company’s portfolio are currently using QR codes that provide consumer education on Deoleo’s sustainability initiatives.
Both Nestlé and Carrefour have also tapped into IBM’s Food Trust to provide more supply chain visibility for the Mousline instant mashed potato mix brand, according to IBM’s website.
Indeed, Deoleo joins such other consumer goods manufacturers as Mondelēz International in using QR codes to provide ingredient origin information and blockchain technology to trace the field-to-shelf journey of Harmony wheat. Unilever similarly is leveraging blockchain to increase traceability for palm oil.
"As the world's largest olive oil company, we have a responsibility to our heritage, our industry and most importantly, our consumers to deliver sustainability,” said Thierry Moyroud, CEO of Deoleo North America, in a statement. “We will continue to drive toward this goal through a holistic approach that addresses every step of the process. The sustainability conversation is multifaceted, and while these new SKUs are significant, they represent a small part of our global vision.”
Deoleo is also investing in energy-efficient and low-carbon technologies to help its factories reduce greenhouse gas emissions, as well as transition to 100% recycled plastic (rPET) packaging and reduce its plastic packaging weight up to 10%.
Moyroud noted that the company’s framework is built upon the value of actions speaking volumes. “To that end, we will remain laser-focused on delivering tangible innovation and initiatives that don't solely respond to market trends, but rather transform sustainability of the entire olive oil category worldwide.”
