Waste not want not! Your profit is in your waste!

The food industry has a unique position when it comes to reduce, reuse and recycle.  The industry focuses around the organic and deals with animate material.  When I first started in food, it was at a canning company in Australia.  As a student who had previously worked in the plastics industry, it amazed me how so much product could be eeked out of fruit.  AND, even more so, that any unused or wasted food, could go right back into the food chain.

The Shepparton Preserving Company (SPC, now SPC-Ardmona), used the parts of the apples and pears that did not go into the cans, as the basis for juice.  Through enzymes and separation technology, they were able to get an incredible product.  The peel, seeds, etc that weren't used, went to pig feed.

Last week, PepsiCo UK announced that it plans to make potato chip bags from ... potatoes!  How is that for redirecting a waste stream! (see foodproductiondaily.com news article)  The question will be does the customer find it more acceptable than the SunChip compostable bag.

Have you looked to see how your waste streams can be reduced, reused or recycled?  And I don't just mean plastic and metal!