Page 85 - FoodFocusThailand No.199 October 2022

SPECIAL REPORT

A life cycle assessment, known Food and beverage manufacturers digitize their businesses to enable end-to-end
as “cradle-to-grave” analysis, can supply chain visibility. Additionally, migrating data and operations to the cloud helps
be restructured as cradle-to-cradle these companies take advantage of technologies, including automation, artificial
– meaning that the process should intelligence (AI), and data analytics, in support of waste reduction. ERP data can
be viewed from the beginning with benefit circular economy strategies as it helps reduce costs, extend visibility, and
raw materials extraction to an optimize manufacturing processes to minimize waste.
“end-of-life,” where the product
can become a new raw material The Benefits of Circular Economy
for a different process. A circular economy addresses the environmental challenges faced by society at
For the food industry, food large by generating new business models and new jobs that will have a positive
waste can be repurposed and impact on reducing carbon emissions and the impact of climate change. Progressing
recycled at several different steps
in the cycle, from manufacturing
to distribution to the consumer use
phase. For instance, the
collaboration between distiller in
the Welsh Wind, Bluestone
Brewing Company, and Orkney
Craft Vinegar saw 3,000 liters of
beer bound for landfill transformed
into vinegar.
While the ultimate goal is for
the system to be closed-loop, it’s
not entirely there yet. It is difficult
to find a company that has
implemented circular thinking
across their entire value chain.
Further, most initiatives are
targeted toward specific points in
the cycle and encourage a circular
system within that facet; for
instance, single-use package
reduction has promoted plastic
collection and recycling, but it
doesn’t entirely prevent the
inclusion of new plastics into the
system.
Producers for certain
categories experience specific
challenges in implementing a
circular economy. For example,
frozen food producers must
navigate the resource-intensive
process of managing perishable
products, adhering to safety
regulations, managing recalls, and
preventing contamination. These
challenges, coupled with broader
hurdles such as controlling the
global agricultural supply chain
and changing customer tastes,
create a massive challenge and
extensive opportunities for those
that innovate their way to become
more circular.

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