Impact of food manufacturing technologies on the environment

Packaging Practices Packaging provides: protection of the product convenience for the consumer marketing opportunity for the manufacturer The cost of making, handling, reusing, recycling and disposing of packaging materials is passed on to the consumer in the cost of the product

Discussion Do you think glass is environmentally friendly? Why / why not?

Glass Large amounts of energy required to shape the glass and handle their heavy weight Recycled glass must be extensively broken down and reshaped Carbon dioxide produced during manufacture and contributes to the greenhouse effect Glass containers need to be reused 10 times before they are as environmentally friendly as plastic items

Coke Bottles Change in packaging: response to environmental concerns Expensive to produce and handle Use of cans and PET bottles to remain competitive

National Packaging Covenant Created in 1999 Aim: to encourage an environmentally sustainable approach to packaging issues by all levels of the supply chain Supported by federal, state and local government Created by the Environmental Protection & Heritage Council in consultation with the National Packaging Council of Australia

Positive Packaging Practices Positive PracticeAffect on the environment Glass manufacturers recycle glass to make new products Fewer raw materials used Reduction in landfill Resealable plastic bags less plastic film used to rewrap products once they are opened Lightweight plastic used in place of glass. E.g. honey & peanut butter Plastic is recyclable Less energy used to make plastic Tetra Pak ‘s can be recycled. Paper - pulped, plastic & aluminium returned to supplier Less energy used in the production, distribution & handling (lightweight)

Over Packaging

Over packaging

Negative Packaging Practices Negative PracticeAffect on the environment Overpackaging Increased landfill More resources used to produce extra layers of packaging Prepackaged foods E.g. mushrooms in a styrofoam tray and shrink wrapped Food wastage Package too large for product it contains E.g. Corn chips have large head space to protect contents Wastage of packaging materials and resources used to create them

Production Techniques Food manufacturers use a large amount of water and energy in the production of their products and packaging Environmental cost analysis used to show how packaging uses energy Energy is required for: heating, cooling, freezing maintaining storage conditions moving products through the production process operating machines cleaning & maintenance

Energy amount of machinery size of machinery age of machinery poorly maintained machinery = more energy used in the form of electricity & gas Water can also be used as energy but must be treated properly before being released into waterways

Waste All products will generate waste in their production. Amount of waste created must be considered in terms of ecological sustainability Ideally, waste generated during production would become raw materials in another product. E.g. strawberries used for ice- cream and sauces

waste Food manufacturing industry sells its waste ingredients to other companies. If not carried out properly, this waste can only be used as animal feed E.g. Curly Fries What could the wastage be used for?

Waste Management Experiment At home, we discard skin, trimmings and other inedible portions of food in the garbage In the food manufacturing industry similar waste occurs but in larger volumes Waste gets used as animal feed. Oranges - juice - peel for cattle feed Corn - canned - husks for cattle feed Fish - filleted - heads for fish bait & pet food Chicken - frozen - heads & feet for gelatine & poultry feed Nuts - packaged - mulch for mushroom growing

Waste management Nature has its own waste management system Trouble occurs when we overload the natural system’s ecological balance Industry has developed biodegradable wastes that are not harmful to the environment in the long term The problem exists when a large amount of waste is discharged in a small area such as a tip

Waste Management There are 2 ways that nature can cope with the issue of excess waste: End of pipe waste treatment - waste such as water is treated before it is returned to waterways. (Diagram Pg 237) Recycle as much material as possible

Packaging Waste Packaging used today is designed to be used only once although many types of packaging are re- usable and recyclable Clean Up Australia Day 2006 (Pie chart Pg 238)

Sanitary Landfill Tip Filling natural depressions and quarries with successive layers of waste and soil This method converts mining pits and swamp lands into useful recreation areas for the local community once the tip is full Diagram (Pg 239)

Responsible disposal of waste

Review Questions Questions 1-4 Pg 235 Questions 1-4 Pg 239