While until a few years ago, food sustainability was perceived almost exclusively as a marketing lever or a voluntary social responsibility activity, today the landscape for the agri-food sector has changed.
Sustainability is a strategic financial requirement.
With the introduction of the European CSRD (Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive), sustainability reporting and auditing –by independent auditors– is already a reality, while for SMEs, pressure comes directly from banks, investors, and large-scale retail partners, who demand reliable ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) data to assess the risk profile.
But how can a food company turn this complexity into a competitive advantage? The answer lies in extracting environmental KPIs directly from production processes.
2026: Sustainability is a fact
Often the real difficulty is data fragmentation, and a balance sheet that is usually drawn up based on estimates or aggregated “after-the-fact” data, which are difficult to verify.
An evolved management system not only records sales and purchases, but acts as a sentinel of resource consumption. When ERP systems (such as those based on Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central implemented by Velika for the industry) constantly engage with factory MES systems, an ecosystem is created in which every gram of waste, every kilowatt-hour consumed, and every liter of water used becomes traceable data.
This step allows us to move from an estimate-based approach to real-world reporting, which is essential for obtaining what is technically called assurance or verification by third parties.
Environmental KPIs: What to Measure for a True Balance Sheet
To build a solid sustainability balance sheet, we need to focus on specific indicators that reflect the real impact of the supply chain. Not everything that is measured is useful, but everything that is relevant must be tracked. In the food industry, key KPIs to focus on include:
● Carbon Footprint (Scope 1, 2 and 3)
While Scope 1 and 2 deal with direct emissions and those related to purchased energy, Scope 3 –often the most critical and complex – deals with the supply chain. An integrated management system also allows us to map the impact of suppliers and upstream logistics.
● Water and Energy Footprint per unit
Measure water and energy consumption in relation to the individual SKU or batch produced. This data is not only useful for the report, but also allows us to identify production inefficiencies that weigh on margins.
● Food waste reduction rates
Real-time monitoring of production waste allows for immediate corrective actions. Reducing waste is not only an ethical duty, but a direct recovery of economic efficiency.
● Packaging waste for SKU
Monitor the weight and recyclability of the packaging used, a fact increasingly required by the GDO.
The role of Business Intelligence in ESG reporting
The true heart of an automated management ecosystem doesn’t just lie in data collection, but in turning that data into strategic information.
Velika solutions, based on Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, offer advanced Business Intelligence modules that serve as the perfect bridge between production and ESG reporting.
Through these tools, you can automate the creation of dashboards that track environmental performance in real-time. Imagine having a dynamic view that compares, on a monthly basis, the carbon footprint of different production lines or highlights anomalies in energy consumption during specific stages of dairy or canning processes.
This reporting capability not only makes preparing the sustainability report much easier, but it also allows management to make evidence-based decisions. If the system detects that a particular plant setup is causing a raw material waste 5% higher than average, action can be taken immediately, turning sustainability from a cost into an optimization opportunity.
You don’t need extra software, you need a silo-free ecosystem
By this point, you might be thinking: “I already have accounting software and a warehouse management system, I just need to buy a little program for sustainability and I’m done.“
Stop. This is the most strategic (and expensive) mistake you could make. You absolutely don’t need yet another isolated software to add to your company.
Real food sustainability doesn’t happen by manually entering data into an external platform that’s disconnected from your factory’s reality. Auditors reject ESG reports precisely when they notice that environmental data doesn’t match the production and purchase volumes recorded in accounting. What you really need is to create an ecosystem without silos, where financial, production, and environmental data all come from the exact same source and flow seamlessly.
At Velika, we are the perfect partner and we don’t provide “siloed” solutions. We’ve combined our Microsoft expertise with our deep understanding of companies and agri-food processes, which is why we can offer integrated environments, with ERP, MES, WMS, and Business Intelligence that communicate in real time.
Every warehouse operation, every production order, every invoice automatically helps feed your ESG dashboard.
The future of Food & Beverage is measurable, and that’s data that can be really useful to you. Contact us today for a no-obligation consultation. Discover how our solutions can turn your production processes into the engine of your next sustainability report.
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