Corporations around the world are implementing more eco-friendly practices into their business plans. Restaurants are creating organic menus, and aerospace engineers are looking into more sustainable travel options. Another field that’s trying to be more environmentally-conscious is food manufacturing. Food manufacturing is a multi-billion-dollar industry. Thus, leaders in the field should try to limit their carbon footprint as much as possible. Here are three ways the food manufacturing industry can become sustainable. Supervisors should consider making these changes so they can help keep the Earth clean.
Environmentally Friendly Packaging
Sustainable food packaging can reduce waste. So many people throw out food containers once they’re empty. These boxes end up sitting in a landfill and hurt the environment. On the other hand, sustainable packaging is reusable. Instead of creating unnecessary waste, companies can invest in recyclable packaging that can be reproduced and made into something else. Company leaders should also consider investing in biodegradable plastics and bags, as they’re much more environmentally-friendly options.
Save Water
The food manufacturing industry uses thousands of gallons of water every year. Supervisors must keep their materials as clean as possible. So, using water is inevitable. However, company leaders can change their irrigation systems to conserve more H20. For example, sprinkler systems waste so much water because of their automatic switches. Conversely, drip systems allow employees to turn them on and off, so less water is wasted. Staff members should also investigate other cleaning alternatives to determine if they can find more ways to conserve water.
Distribution Matters
Transportation plays a vital role in the food manufacturing business. Once workers package the food, they load it into vehicles to be distributed to grocery stores. The trucks that carry the food to these stores are incredibly large. Thus, trucking companies and food manufacturing officials should work together to develop sustainable transportation distribution plans. It’d be helpful if workers tried to create an equal weight distribution when loading. The more a truck weighs, the more harmful gases it emits into the air. Therefore, weight matters when it comes to making the industry more sustainable. Those employed in the trucking industry should also think about implementing a training program, so drivers know what they need to do to be eco-friendly.
These are three ways the food manufacturing industry can become sustainable. Food manufacturing is a booming business, so leaders should try their hardest to reduce their carbon footprint. Making these adjustments will help keep the Earth clean, and may even improve customer satisfaction.
