Sustainability certification in the digital era: a qualitative analysis of sustainability reports across product categories

Abstract

The food industry faces growing pressure to align sustainability goals with the rapid advance of digital technologies. This study explores how digitalization supports and transforms sustainability certification practices across diverse food product categories. Novelty lies in examining the interplay between digital technologies and sustainability reporting intensity, offering insights into how firms communicate and operationalize sustainability commitments. A qualitative content analysis was conducted on the sustainability reports of 21 companies using MAXQDA software, assessing the frequency and depth of reporting on sustainability focus topics and digital tools applied. The study includes multiple food product categories, such as coffee and tea, chocolate, grain products, dairy products, beverages, meat and fish, and tropical fruits. Results show that larger firms and those with higher turnover report more frequently and comprehensively on sustainability and digitalization. Three clusters of companies were identified, each reflecting shared sustainability challenges rather than specific product categories. The findings suggest that the relevance of digital technologies is more closely linked to addressing these cross-cutting sustainability challenges, and that high-value product segments provide the most promising starting points for integrating digital technologies into certification processes.