ROCOL Food & Hygiene segment specialist, Andy Howard

Yorkshire manufacturer ROCOL has become the first lubricant and maintenance product manufacturer to secure the Vegan Trademark for 45 products.

The firm says the registration will help food manufacturers reinforce their vegan credentials and demonstrate a commitment to quality throughout the supply chain.

ROCOL has one of the widest portfolios of food grade products in the market. The FOODLUBE range boasts ISO 21469 certification, Halal, and Kosher, alongside NSF approvals and accreditations. Now, ROCOL has become the first lubricants manufacturer globally to be registered with the Vegan Trademark.

Managed by The Vegan Society, the trademark helps consumers identify products that are free from animal ingredients. First introduced in 1990, it currently appears on over 53,000 products in 79 countries, including food, drink, cosmetics, clothing and household items.

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The Vegan Trademark signifies that no animal or animal-derivatives or Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) involving animals have been used in the product or manufacturing process, and that there has been no animal testing on product or ingredients, where this is controlled by the manufacturer.

ROCOL Food & Hygiene segment specialist, Andy Howard, says this is a fast-growing area of the market that cannot be ignored: “Data from SmartProtein/Nielsen reports 73% growth in sales of plant-based food in the UK between 2018 and 2020, and 63% growth in sales of plant-based meat alternatives as consumers reduced their meat consumption or switched to vegan, vegetarian, or flexitarian diets.

“According to The Vegan Society, more than 90% of vegans and vegetarians look for vegan verification on the products they buy, and 85% believe that third-party certification is important. The Vegan Trademark is the most recognised mark globally, and this is why we sought to register products from our FOODLUBE and PUROL ranges.

“Using NSF-registered food grade lubricants in your manufacturing processes demonstrates a commitment to food safety. Choosing products that display the Vegan Trademark adds another layer of transparency to your supply chain by confirming that your vegan credentials extend beyond the ingredients used to manufacture your products.

“Consumers are often left second guessing supply chains, which can result in lost sales of end products. Looking beyond ingredients and selecting products for machine maintenance that have the Vegan Trademark will help eliminate that doubt and give your products a competitive edge in the fast-growing free-from category.”

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