Hippeas is a relatively new brand, now with multiple products and flavors. Their chickpea puffs packaging features a label for sustainably grown chickpeas. On the back of the packaging, it explains all of the environmental benefits of chickpeas: they keep nutrients in the soil and use less water and fertilizer. When researching the organization that sanctions such a label, I discovered that there is none. The sustainability claim that the brand makes with its label is unregulated, meaning that any brand or food packaging could potentially use a similar label. While it is true that chickpeas have a lower carbon footprint than other protein sources, especially meats, the label that the brand uses is unofficial and unregulated.
There has been an increased awareness of sustainable farming practices, especially as our society moves from growing its own food to relying on a small percentage of people to provide food for the whole world. The farming industry has moved from small family farms to industrial farming, which has raised concerns about its effects on the environment. Perhaps supporting businesses that practice sustainable farming will encourage other food industries to move towards more environmentally friendly practices as well. Hopefully, we will soon be seeing an official label for sustainable farming practices on all of our food products.