Converting to LED bulbs is one of the best and easiest investments in sustainability for processors and producers. Dairy producers also should look at practices in milk cooling, ventilation and milk harvesting.
EPA’s next big measurement program uses energy performance indicators in a program created by Duke University. Soon you will be able to compare your plant to the overall dairy industry’s performance. EPA will recognize the top 25% of participating dairy plants with its Energy Star Certification.
Dairy plants in the United States are limited in how they can use reclaimed water. But in Singapore, what comes out of the water tap is treated sewage that is safe to drink. There’s a lesson there for us.
The ultimate goal is widespread adoption of digester systems to manage manure and nutrients, address air and water quality concerns, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and produce renewable energy and fertilizer.
Dairy producers and processors have found value in what they used to throw away. Methane digesters and other technologies create energy to power homes, offices and industrial plants.
Dairy processors are using water more efficiently. That’s a good thing because the costs of this resource (incoming and discharging) will only continue to increase.
Water is essential to life. Approximately 70% of the human body is made up of water and about 75% of our planet is covered in water. With that much water in and around us it would seem that water would be cheap and abundant. But that isn’t always the case.
Food defense is way beyond food safety. Search the FDA’s mitigation strategies database for ideas how to improve security around a blend tank, pasteurizer or other equipment.
For the last 10 years, I have been working closely with federal and state government officials on the prevention of intentional contamination of food, or what is known in our government as food defense.
Mick Jagger told us in song that we can’t always get what we want. But milk jugs and milk crates give us what want and need from a sustainability point of view.
Consumers want sustainable food packaging. Food manufacturers want to use sustainable packaging. Many packaging suppliers are striving to meet marketplace demands. But we live in an imperfect world and we can’t always get what we want. That said improvements are being made and have been made over the years.
Measuring sustainability practices involves many variables. There is no one-size-fits-all approach that works for all operations. Metrics take differences into consideration.
Consumers continue to demand tasty and nutritious products that are produced in an environmentally responsible way. As a result, retailers and foodservice companies have heightened interest in the sustainability of their suppliers, and environmental organizations have ratcheted up their sustainability assessments of industries and businesses.