Currently, the UK food and drink industry produces up to 16% of the UK’s total industrial
waste, up to 10 million tonnes per year. Waste has become a major issue for food
processors as a result. Envirowise is working with
The Food Processing Faraday Partnership Ltd (FPFP) and
PICME to help food processors overcome these issues. FPFP Regional
Manager Pete Moores and Technology Translator John Stanford explain
their approach.
There are essentially two aspects to waste – how to make less of it and what to
do with it, if, in spite of your best efforts, you still have it. Factories can
minimise waste produced through continuous improvement and lean manufacturing programmes.
While these approaches have become the norm in some manufacturing sectors such as
automotive, they are far from routine in the food and drink industry. FPFP encourages
best practice in reducing waste and has been running a series of initiatives to
help food processors see the benefits of these methods. The starting point for many
food processors has been to compare their existing performance against similar companies.
This has been done through the use of a benchmarking tool offered to the food industry
by FPFP in partnership with the Process Industries Centre of Manufacturing Excellence
(PICME). A recent workshop of bakers who have been through the FPFP benchmarking
programme was held at Fletchers Bakeries’ Sheffield site. Andrew Harris, Manufacturing
Improvement Manager at Fletchers, reported savings of up to £200 000 resulting from
continuous improvement activities.
Food processors and retailers who have meat in their products are facing the challenge
of meeting the requirements of the Animal
By-Products Regulations (ABPR). These regulations prevent the disposal
of certain meat containing wastes to landfill. Even if waste is permitted to go
to landfill, rising landfill costs are making companies ask whether there are better
options. There are technologies available which offer alternatives to landfill,
such as composting or waste-to-energy, but many companies do not have the expertise
and resource to understand and exploit these processes.
FPFP has been running a series of ‘waste clubs’ that bring companies together to
find out about waste reduction approaches, waste technologies, legislation and support
available. There have been presentations on the savings made at Fletchers and on
how waste minimisation clubs can save wastes and costs. The waste clubs are also
an excellent platform for the introduction of major initiatives, such as that recently
launched by the local Regional Development Agency, Yorkshire Forward – Recycling
Action Yorkshire (RAY). Activities such as benchmarking and waste clubs are not
only of interest to large firms. Potters of Barnsley are a small craft baker employing
40 people. Commercial Director Catherine Potter said
"We had always worked very much on our own, but were persuaded by FPFP to get involved
in regional activities. Having done the benchmarking exercise and attended waste
club meetings we have learnt an enormous amount and wouldn’t go back to a closed
doors approach".
Future activities of the FPFP will see us working more closely with Envirowise in
developing a network of coordinated
Resource Efficiency Clubs (RECs) across the country specifically for
the food industry. These will allow food processors both large and small to access
the latest advice from Envirowise and a range of expert speakers at workshops. REC
members will have access to specialist support to implement technology to facilitate
cost savings and environmental improvements, and through the FPFP, see the latest
developments in technology to improve resource efficiency from around the world.
Look out for our workshop on Practical technology to achieve cost savings from improved
resource efficiency if you’re at the national
Food Environmental Efficiency Day on the 14th February
at the NEC in Birmingham or visit our website, a resource where you can find out
some of the latest developments in technology from Japan and Canada to the Space
industry, at www.fpfaraday.com
Find out more about Animal By-Products Regulations
Find out more about FEED 2006
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