HowGood is an independent research company and SaaS data platform with the world's largest database on food product sustainability. With more than 90,000 on-farm emissions factors for food ingredients, HowGood helps leading brands, retailers, suppliers and restaurants to measure, manage, and communicate their environmental and social impact.
Minimally Processed
How much energy is used in the factory processing of the ingredients in this product?
What does the Minimally Processed attribute measure?
HowGood’s Minimally Processed attribute recognizes food products that are made with lower-energy processing, which reduces environmental impact. Less ingredient processing required in production also tends to yield products with better ingredient quality.
Products that receive the Minimally Processed attribute have ingredients that are not dependent on commercial or industrial processing. Low-intensity processes such as minor heat or fermentation, mechanical processing, and physical extraction are a few examples of ingredient processes that would qualify. On the contrary, chemical processing, industrial fermentation, and use of solvents are examples of high-intensity processes.
Note: This attribute looks at the method used to process an ingredient and does not take into account the actual energy required to do so. It also does not reward a product for its level of healthiness or nutrition, or how “natural” the product is.
How long does a product qualify for the Minimally Processed attribute?
Products that qualify for Minimally Processed receive access to the attribute for public-facing communications for one year. At the end of the annual contract, products must be reassessed based on the current industry benchmark to re-qualify.
What does the Minimally Processed attribute mean for consumers?
The Minimally Processed attribute provides consumers with an indicator of the intensity of an ingredient’s transformation, as indicated by the degree of processing involved in producing its ingredients. It’s easy-to-digest and guides consumers toward decisions that are in line with their health goals and dietary preferences. By purchasing Minimally Processed products, consumers can take a step toward making more informed choices on what they choose to purchase.
What is HowGood’s research methodology for calculating the Minimally Processed attribute?
The Minimally Processed product attribute rewards low-intensity ingredient processing. To receive the Minimally Processed attribute, products must only contain ingredients that are not dependent on commercial/industrial processing to exist. Minor heat or fermentation, mechanical processing (e.g., milling of grain), and physical extraction (e.g., expeller pressing of olives) are examples of low-intensity ingredient processes accepted for this attribute. The ingredient may be augmented by the food system but not created by it. Some ingredients ubiquitous in the food system used as supplements added in small quantities to enrich foods are included as minimally processed despite being dependent on commercial/industrial processing, and constitute the notable exception to this rule.
HowGood’s methodology for calculating processing impact involves:
- Data Collection: HowGood draws on a diverse collection of data sources, including peer reviewed journal articles to identify the level of intensity applied in the production of food ingredients. For each ingredient processing type, or combination of processing types, HowGood researchers identify the relevant steps to transform the ingredient, including the energy and chemical inputs required. Our experts identify when an ingredient only requires low-intensity processing. HowGood also maintains a record of and references the NOVA classification system on the level of ingredient processing. NOVA is limited in its coverage of ingredients compared to the breadth of the HowGood library, hence its use as a reference.
- Ingredient Mapping: Once the data is collected and analyzed, HowGood conducts a proprietary process of mapping each ingredient to its source crop, animal or material. Using global import/export data and HowGood industry partnerships, HowGood then maps each source crop to its corresponding geographic location to account for the specific on-the-ground practices, impacts, and risks in each locale.
- Data Aggregation: HowGood, to date, has mapped nearly every ingredient, chemical and material (33,000+ in total) in the CPG food industry, including where and how it is produced. This mapping is used to aggregate data across geographic regions or ingredient categories and develop industry-average impact profiles for processing types and energy usage across every ingredient.
Based on the ingredient mapping process, HowGood assigns a default location and corresponding industry-average profile for every ingredient in a product. If deeper levels of data granularity are available (from a specific supplier, industry partner, or publication), these specifics are applied.
What data sources does HowGood use to assess processing impact?
- Palm Oil Innovation Group
- EcoInvent LCA Database
- United States Department of Agriculture
- Australian Certified Organic
- Humanity United
- ESU World Food Database
- International Journal of LCA
- Open LCA
- Sustainability Consortium
- Food Processing Technology
- Cradle to Cradle
- ELCD
- Codex Alimentarius (WHO/FAO)
- Non-GMO Product Certified
- Everything Added to Food in the US
- Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research
- Meat Atlas
- European Food Additives Database
- Food Additives Database
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