SUSTAINABILITY IN ACTION

In the aisles of major international food industry trade shows like SIAL Paris, attention is often drawn to scale, launches and market share. Yet alongside commercial ambition, another narrative has steadily gained ground: one that asks how products are sourced, how they are manufactured and what legacy they leave behind. At SIAL Paris 2026, that narrative will take centre stage through SIAL for Change, a competition designed to identify and promote exhibitors whose commitments extend beyond the product itself. By joining forces with The Foodies, a European awards initiative recognising sustainability performance among small and medium-sized food and drink companies, the competition will expand into a broader platform for visibility, exchange and collective progress.

A platform for responsible transformation

SIAL for Change was created to highlight companies that embed sustainability into the core of their business model. Integrated within SIAL Paris, the competition recognises exhibitors whose products, processes and commitments demonstrate measurable environmental and social impact. It moves beyond product innovation alone and places responsibility on equal footing with commercial performance.

For mid-sized and large companies exhibiting at SIAL Paris, SIAL for Change assesses sustainability commitments through six key CSR pillars:

1. The company and CSR

This pillar focuses on how corporate social responsibility is governed and driven within the company. It covers management and leadership of the CSR process, internal engagement with teams and stakeholders, and the implementation of responsible purchasing policies. It signals how deeply CSR is embedded in strategic decision-making from the top down.

2. Innovation and products

Here the emphasis is on responsible innovation. Companies are evaluated on the development of products or solutions that advance sustainability, whether through formulation, reduced environmental footprint, improved nutrition, or enhanced social value.

3. The company and sector-specific issues

This pillar looks at sector-specific challenges, the actions taken to address them and the company’s future objectives. It assesses how well the candidate understands priority issues in its segment of the food industry and plans concrete responses.

4. The company in society

Social responsibility beyond the company itself is examined here. It covers consumers’ health, efforts to prevent and reduce food waste, and local solidarity and community engagement, including initiatives that strengthen social cohesion.

5. The company and the environment

This environmental dimension evaluates how the company addresses its ecological footprint, including responsible practices in buildings and transport, resource efficiency and strategies to reduce emissions and waste.

6. The company and social aspects

This pillar relates to workforce and partner wellbeing. Inclusion, diversity, working conditions, health and wellbeing of employees and value-chain partners are considered here, recognising that social performance is integral to sustainable business.

New in 2026: SIAL for Change by The Foodies

In 2026, the competition will expand through a new collaboration with The Foodies – Food & Drink SME Sustainability Awards. This partnership introduces a dedicated category, “SIAL for Change by The Foodies”, opening the competition to European small and medium-sized enterprises who are not exhibiting at SIAL Paris.

The inclusion of an SME-focused dimension reflects the structural importance of smaller businesses within Europe’s food landscape. Across the continent, 290,000 SMEs represent 99.2% of food and drink companies. Collectively, they employ 2.6 million people and generate €436 billion in turnover. Progress within the food industry cannot rely solely on multinational groups; it depends equally on smaller producers, processors and brand owners.

Projects in the new category will be assessed on Originality, Impact, Scalability, Sustainability and Economics, ensuring that innovation is both responsible and commercially viable. In addition, candidates are examined against seven European sustainability objectives: healthy, balanced and sustainable diets; prevention and reduction of food loss and waste; an optimised circular and resource-efficient food chain; a climate neutral food chain; sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment and decent work; sustainable value creation in the food supply chain through partnership; and sustainable sourcing in food supply chains.

By integrating this awards framework into SIAL for Change, the 2026 edition reinforces the competition’s reach while maintaining its core evaluation standards.

Expanding impact at the heart of the exhibition

SIAL for Change is not positioned as a peripheral award. In 2026, it becomes a fully-fledged space within the exhibition, with its own dedicated area designed to anchor sustainability at the heart of the show. Selected participants will benefit from a visible presence integrated into the commercial flow of the event, in direct proximity to buyers, distributors and decision-makers. The new format introduces a stage for talks and keynote sessions, the integration of SIAL Jobs, and curated inspirational content, creating a dynamic setting that encourages open discussion around CSR and responsible transformation. Rather than a simple recognition moment, SIAL for Change 2026 will operate as an active forum for exchange, dialogue and industry-wide engagement.

The addition of “SIAL for Change by The Foodies” extends the reach of the competition beyond exhibiting companies, creating a pathway for European SMEs to gain exposure within a major international food industry trade show. Recognition within this framework offers visibility at a moment when sourcing decisions and distribution partnerships are actively negotiated.

Anchoring sustainability within SIAL Paris 2026

SIAL Paris 2026 will take place from 17 to 21 October at Paris Nord Villepinte, once again bringing together the international food community. Within that context, SIAL for Change plays a strategic role. It translates broad commitments to sustainability into concrete examples presented on the show floor. For exhibitors, the competition offers structured visibility linked to measurable criteria. For visitors, it provides a curated entry point into sustainability-driven innovation across multiple food industry sectors.

The evolution of the competition in 2026 signals a deliberate strengthening of this approach. By joining forces with The Foodies and integrating an SME sustainability awards category, SIAL for Change broadens its scope while preserving a clear and consistent evaluation framework.

As SIAL Paris continues to evolve as a leading global platform for the food exhibition 2026 cycle, SIAL for Change stands as a visible indicator of how innovation and responsibility increasingly intersect. In 2026, with expanded European SME participation and reinforced on-site presence, the initiative will further embed sustainability within the fabric of SIAL Paris itself.