Serving todays consumers by investing in tomorrow
Since the early 1970’s, Nexira has been pioneer in setting a responsible sourcing policy. The company has developed local partnerships with stakeholders involved in the Acacia gum harvesting. We speak to Mathieu Donain, Director of Business Development, to find out how the company is investing in a sustainable future to serve todays demand for clean label.
Why is clean label important to consumers?
“The priority for the consumers is the transparency. Consumers are paying closer attention to ingredient lists and want to know more about the ingredients.
When it comes to clean label ingredients, consumers are pretty clear about what they want: labels that are easy to recognize, simple and natural, containing no chemical-sounding or unpronounceable ingredients. At the same time, manufacturers want natural alternatives offering equal or better performance.
The desire for clean label and natural products are also extending to products that actively promote natural health.
As an example, Acacia fiber is one such clean label ingredient that meet all of these needs. It is a natural, GMO-free, available in organic grades and offers interesting prebiotic properties for gut health.”
What technologies, processes or sustainability initiatives are you investing in to maintain the ‘naturalness’ of your ingredients?
“Nexira only uses mechanical process, water purification without chemical modification. We also guarantee to preserve the technical and functional benefits of our ingredients.
Furthermore, Nexira early understood that protecting and preserving the natural resources in the sourcing countries is essential. This is why we developed several sustainable initiatives in Africa.”
What you are doing to support your sources at a local level?
“Our local partnerships local with stakeholders involved in the Acacia gum harvesting are valuable for the social and economic development of local population as well as for the environmental protection. Actions include: valuable and secured jobs & income, warehouses construction, harvesting techniques, better access to drinking water by digging water wells and also preventing desertification/preserving land prone to water and wind erosion thanks to the cactus and acacia trees.
Nexira is working closely with locally well-established NGO’s, which have a recognized expertise in Africa. The programs implemented are built based on the needs and interests expressed by local actors through participatory diagnostics and feasibility studies.”
