The food industry significantly impacts the environment due to the increasing amounts of waste created each year during food production. However, there are plenty of steps businesses can take when considering how food manufacturers can be more eco-friendly.

Use Recyclable Packaging

Unsustainable packaging materials are one of the largest contributors to waste in the food industry. Although many companies assume that plastic packaging is recyclable and highly sustainable, there are plenty of harmful consequences to using this material.

Why Food Manufacturers Should Avoid Plastic Packaging

There are two different types of plastics businesses may use in packaging: thermoset and thermoplastics. First, thermoset plastics are not 100 percent recyclable. Thermoset plastics contain crossed polymers that make their recyclability impossible.

Companies must use intense energy to melt and recycle portions of thermoplastic synthetic fibers for this material to be reused again. Since the quality of plastic packaging degrades each time it is used, this material is not highly safe or sustainable.

Plastic materials are also often littered into the ecosystem and poison animals each year with microplastics. Before deciding on a product packaging design for food products, companies should consider how these materials can be more sustainable.

Sustainable Packaging Materials

• Cardboard
• Glass
• Paper

Decrease Water Use

Many food manufacturers do not realize how much water is used during food production each day. However, food manufacturing plants often use large measurements of water each day to power equipment necessary for food production.

When businesses review their water use, they can begin to eliminate wasteful water-intensive equipment and procedures. Since there is plenty of modern, eco-friendly food equipment available to use less water during manufacturing, switching to a more sustainable water-use method is quick and convenient.

Practice Energy Efficiency

One of the most effective ways food manufacturers can be more eco-friendly is by becoming more energy efficient. One of the simplest ways companies can decrease their energy use is by turning off lights, air conditioning systems, and equipment when they are not being used.

Swapping standard lighting systems with more energy-efficient lighting such as LED bulbs will also save companies costs and create a more sustainable manufacturing process. Even updating older equipment to more energy-conservative machinery will keep your business from hiking up energy bills and encourage sustainability. Although these changes may seem small, they can significantly impact the carbon footprint of a business.

Food manufacturing directly affects the health of consumers and the environment. Consider implementing these effective changes into your food manufacturing process.

Here at Get Suckered, we offer candy flavoring, beverage flavoring, and countless flavor emulsions to make food manufacturing simple, sustainable, and delicious. To learn more about our tips for food production, recipes, or products, check out our website for more information.