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Canada is one of the world's largest beef producers, with its 60,000 ranches and feedlots contributing CAD $33 billion (US$26.2 billion) to the country's economy. But that is not stopping the federal government in Ottawa from issuing new dietary guidelines in an effort to promote healthy eating. Gone are the recommendations to eat a certain amount from various "food groups." Also eliminated, period, is any suggestion to consume dairy products. "Regular intake of water," is what a summary of the eating guidelines advise Canadians.

Packaging remains a considerable challenge for businesses looking to reduce their impacts, but innovators such as food-service supplier Eco-Products and Finnish startup Sulpac are helping to accelerate the transition to lower-impact models through cross-industry partnerships and sustainable packaging solutions.

Marriott International launched Serve 360, a sustainability and social impact platform designed to "guide the company's commitment and deliver positive results" across four priority areas: communities, responsible operations, workplace readiness and access to opportunity, and human rights. As part of Serve 360, the company announced new 2025 sustainability and social impact commitments including targets to reduce water use by 15%, carbon by 30%, waste by 45%, food waste by 50%, and more.

On Tuesday, the Humane Society of the United States introduced a ballot initiative called the Prevention of Cruelty to Farm Animals Act, which calls for a requirement that all pork and veal sold in California be produced without restrictive crates, and that all eggs produced and sold in the state be cage-free. It would make California the only state other than Massachusetts, which passed similar legislation last year, to have such regulations on farm animal welfare.

According to the report, rising environmental concerns and growing public awareness about eco-friendly products are expected to drive the rapid growth of sustainable packaging market over the forecast period. In particular, consumer demand for sustainable food product packaging is projected to be a large driver.

Apple, Walmart, CVS, Ikea, Whole Foods Market, and Target scored the highest in a group's report card on reducing toxic chemicals in consumer products.

British fast food restaurants and grocery chains, including Tesco, Morrisons and McDonald's, buy their chicken from Cargill, which feeds its poultry with imported soy, much of it apparently coming from the Bolivian Amazon and Brazilian Cerrado - areas rapidly being deforested for new soy plantations.

Maine has issued a statewide ban on styrofoam food containers, becoming the first state to do so. The ban will go into effect January 1, 2021.

Tech solutions to make the beef industry more sustainable.

McDonald's is offering 100% organic beef hamburgers sourced from organic farms for a limited time in Germany. The company's new offering will be available from Oct. 1 to Nov. 18.

Chipotle is attempting to win back consumer trust and increase sales with its "Ingredients Reign" campaign. The spots emphasize the brand's commitment to sourcing the best, most sustainable ingredients.

Mexico's pine forests are under threat from avocado farms, with producers expanding their orchards to meet burgeoning demand. The water-intensive orchards and increasing use of agricultural chemicals pose a threat to surrounding ecosystem, experts say.

Over the past few years, so-called ugly fruit and vegetables have been gaining a host of admirers. Now, Wal-Mart has officially joined the bandwagon. Starting this week, America's largest grocer says it is piloting sales of weather-dented apples at a discount in 300 of its stores in Florida.

The world's third largest ice cream manufacturer R&R Ice Cream collaborated with Iona Capital and Veolia to convert inedible ice cream waste - the sugar, fat, and protein left behind after cleaning - into biogas that generates power for the UK National Grid. The company uses an anaerobic digestion facility to convert the ice cream waste into biogas.

PepsiCo's Frito-Lay snacks facility in Casa Grande, Arizona, treats and recycles about 648,000 gallons per day of process water from the potato chip and snack manufacturing process for rinse and wash water and for landscape irrigation.

n what has been hailed as a far-reaching victory for global shark conservation, Air China has become the first airline in mainland China to ban shark fin cargo on its flights. The airline, which is headquartered in Beijing, announced the ban on Friday. "We were one of the first airlines in China to raise the awareness of the unsustainability of the global shark trade," says a message on the carrier's website. "We understand the community's desire to promote responsible and sustainable marine sourcing practices, and this remains important to Air China Cargo's overall sustainable development goals."

Global chocolate and cocoa supplier Barry Callebaut launched its new sustainability strategy "Forever Chocolate," which sets out four targets for the company to achieve by 2025. The targets include eradicating child labor from its supply chain, becoming carbon and forest positive, lifting more than 500,000 cocoa farmers out of poverty, and using 100% sustainable ingredients in all of its products.

Recent studies have shown that climate change could affect the tourism sector. A lack of snowfall in California led to a decrease in business for local ski resorts and restaurants.