Cargill-DSM’s stevia sweetner EverSweet offers environmental advantages

As part of the LCA review, Cargill and DSM compared EverSweet to three production pathways

Transparency is at the heart of two new initiatives from Cargill, a comprehensive Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) of EverSweet stevia sweetener by Avansya and a first-of-its-kind look inside the company’s leaf-based stevia sustainability efforts.

To complete the LCA, Cargill and joint venture partner DSM compared the environmental impact of their ground-breaking EverSweet sweetener to other stevia-based solutions, as well as conventional sugar. The third-party-verified LCA study found EverSweet offers significant environmental advantages over other sweetener choices.

Stevia leaves contain dozens of sweet components. However, two of the best-tasting, Reb M and Reb D, comprise less than 1 per cent of the stevia leaf. Cargill and DSM pioneered an innovative and more sustainable approach, using fermentation to produce EverSweet, a Reb M and Reb D stevia sweetener, with less water, less land, and a smaller carbon footprint.

As part of the LCA review, Cargill and DSM compared EverSweet to three production pathways: leaf-based Reb A, leaf-based Reb M, Reb M produced through bioconversion, and for benchmarking purposes, beet sugar and cane sugar. EverSweet significantly outperformed the other sweeteners.

When compared to the bioconverted Reb M, EverSweet:

• Produces 60 percent lower carbon footprint.
• Requires 70 percent less land.
• Results in 60 percent lower ecological footprint, delivering additional benefits related to land use, including biodiversity, ecosystems impact, and reduced need for water for irrigation.