Sustainability in the F&B Industry: How Solar Energy Supports ESG Goals and Consumer Demand

The Food and Beverage (F&B) industry is a vital engine of economic growth in Asia Pacific (APAC), serving billions of consumers daily. 

However, it's also among the most energy-intensive industries, accounting for nearly 30% of global energy consumption. With increasing energy costs, rising regulatory pressure, and consumers demanding more sustainable practices, F&B companies in APAC face urgent energy-related challenges.

To address these challenges, businesses are turning to renewable solutions — particularly solar energy. By integrating solar power into their operations, F&B manufacturers can significantly reduce energy expenses, lower carbon emissions and enhance their brand’s appeal to eco-conscious consumers.

In this article, we discuss how solar energy can empower the F&B industry in APAC to overcome energy challenges, meet ESG goals, and secure long-term competitiveness.

Why Sustainability Matters for the F&B Industry

Driven by changing consumer preferences, tightening regulatory frameworks, and increased investor expectations, sustainability has become a business necessity for APAC’s F&B players.

Changing Consumer Preferences

Today’s consumers increasingly prefer environmentally responsible brands, demanding greater transparency and sustainable production practices. Surveys indicate that nearly 40% of APAC consumers actively seek out products from companies with strong sustainability credentials.

Regulatory and Investor Pressures

In addition to changing consumer preferences across APAC, governments have also begun implementing tighter regulations and setting ambitious carbon-reduction targets. Countries like Singapore, Japan, and Australia have introduced stringent sustainability standards, carbon pricing mechanisms, and renewable energy incentives. 

At the same time, ESG-conscious investors prefer companies proactively adopting sustainable solutions, such as integrating solar energy into their production processes.

By embracing solar power and sustainable practices, F&B companies can meet these growing demands, strengthen brand reputation, and secure market share in an increasingly competitive and environmentally conscious landscape.

Energy Challenges Facing APAC’s F&B Manufacturers

Given the nature of food manufacturing i.e. packing, canning, refrigeration and processing to name a few, the F&B industry is often reliant on energy-intensive processes. These energy demands present significant challenges, impacting operational efficiency and costs while also having an impact on the environment. 

Solar Energy Role in Supporting ESG Goals for F&B Manufacturing

Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) refers to the set of criteria businesses use to measure their sustainability and ethical impact. The Environmental criteria examine how a company manages its ecological footprint, including carbon emissions and resource consumption. 

Meanwhile, the Social aspect of ESG focuses on a company's relationships and reputation within communities, employee welfare, and customer engagement. Finally, Governance assesses a company's transparency, compliance, and leadership practices.

Solar energy helps F&B companies significantly reduce carbon emissions and meet regulatory requirements. Additionally, adopting solar energy strengthens brand reputation among eco-conscious consumers, attracts ESG-focused investors, and ensures long-term competitiveness.

1. Environmental (E): Reducing Carbon Footprint

Solar energy enables F&B manufacturers to significantly reduce carbon emissions by replacing traditional fossil-fuel energy sources. Installing solar panels allows businesses to:

• Minimise greenhouse gas emissions.
• Lower reliance on non-renewable grid electricity.
• Support corporate targets such as net-zero emissions.

2. Social (S): Enhancing Brand Reputation and Community Relations

Consumers increasingly prefer brands that actively demonstrate environmental responsibility. Adopting solar energy allows F&B businesses to:

• Meet consumer demand for sustainably produced goods.
• Strengthen brand image by visibly committing to sustainability.
• Foster positive community relations through proactive environmental stewardship.

3. Governance (G): Improving Compliance and Investor Appeal

Solar energy adoption improves corporate governance by aligning business operations with global sustainability and regulatory requirements. F&B companies can:

• Demonstrate proactive compliance with environmental regulations.
• Strengthen transparency and accuracy in ESG reporting.
• Attract ESG-focused investors by reducing long-term environmental and regulatory risks.

By integrating solar energy into their operations, F&B manufacturers in APAC can effectively achieve ESG objectives, enhancing their market position and securing long-term sustainability.

Business Benefits of Adopting Solar Energy in the F&B Industry

For Food and Beverage (F&B) companies operating in Asia Pacific, transitioning to solar energy not only addresses environmental and sustainability challenges but also delivers substantial business advantages. 

Adopting solar solutions provides immediate operational savings, long-term financial stability, and enhanced competitive positioning in the marketplace.

Here are the key business benefits for F&B companies adopting solar energy:

1. Significant Cost Savings

Solar energy reduces reliance on conventional grid electricity, directly lowering operational costs. By generating electricity through solar panels, manufacturers can achieve consistent and predictable energy costs, lessening vulnerability to volatile energy markets. 

Through innovative financial arrangements like Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), businesses can adopt solar energy without upfront capital expenditures, making solar even more attractive.

2. Enhanced Energy Independence and Operational Resilience

Power outages and disruptions can severely impact production schedules, cause significant downtime, and affect product quality. This is especially important for the F&B industry, where consistent production and quality assurance are critical for profitability and consumer trust.

Solar energy provides a robust solution to these energy challenges. By installing solar panels on-site, manufacturers can generate their own reliable and renewable electricity, significantly reducing dependence on unstable grid power. 

This ensures that facilities have continuous access to electricity even during disruptions or peak demand periods. All of which contribute to less downtimes, more stable production schedules, and improved consumer satisfaction.

3. Improved Market Competitiveness

Consumers across Asia Pacific are becoming increasingly conscious about sustainability, with a growing preference for brands that demonstrate clear environmental responsibility. 

Recent consumer surveys highlight that more shoppers are actively seeking out products and companies committed to reducing their ecological footprint. The same survey also found that nearly 40% of respondents reported that they “would actively boycott a company for not being eco-conscious”.

Solar energy offers F&B manufacturers a practical and impactful path to meet growing expectations around sustainability. By installing solar panels and generating clean electricity on-site, businesses can reduce their dependence on fossil fuels and significantly lower their carbon emissions. This helps shrink their environmental footprint and supports broader decarbonisation goals across the industry.

With renewable energy powering their operations, manufacturers can strengthen their sustainability credentials and demonstrate real commitment to environmental responsibility. This resonates strongly with today’s eco-conscious consumers and aligns with the procurement standards of multinational companies that prioritise ESG-compliant suppliers.

Solar Energy as a Strategic Advantage for Sustainable F&B Manufacturing

As sustainability becomes a core expectation in the Food and Beverage industry, businesses across Asia Pacific are under growing pressure to align with ESG goals, meet consumer demand for greener products, and reduce energy-related risks. Solar energy helps manufacturers lower emissions, reduce costs, and build more resilient operations.

At TotalEnergies ENEOS, we partner with F&B manufacturers to deliver customised solar solutions that support long-term sustainability and business performance. From system design to installation and operation, our end-to-end solar services are built to meet the unique energy needs of your industry.

Reach out to our team to learn more about how you can future-proof your business.