The food manufacturing and processing sectors generate a significant amount of Ireland’s food waste. Much of this waste is inedible (for example skins, seeds, bones) and redirected for animal feed or energy production. As a result, it is often overlooked when considering food waste prevention.
In order to reduce wastes in the manufacturing and processing sectors, the specific reasons contributing to the generation of food waste must be identified. These reasons will vary but the following are some that are commonly encountered:
- Trimming during processing
- Product specifications (e.g. size, cosmetic/ aesthetic standards)
- Quality control
- Rejected or damaged ingredients or products
- End of line/batch residues
- Product lost through cleaning
- Improper packaging
- Contamination on the processing line
- Errors in processing resulting in defects
- Poor operational practices
- Poor instrumentation and controls
Relevant resources
EPA Food Waste Measurement Protocol for Manufacturing Sector
The EPA Food Waste Measurement Protocol for the Food and Drink Manufacturing sector provides a consistent method to measure food waste. It provides a step-by-step guide to help collate relevant data and inform food waste reduction decisions
download EPA Food Waste Measurement Protocol Workbook
Download the EPA Food Waste Measurement Protocol Excel workbook for food and drink manufacturing businesses. The workbook will help to gather and collate relevant data and estimate all food waste related flows. (xlsx file)
download The ultimate guide – monitoring and measuring food waste
A guide produced by Resource Efficient Scotland
download Champions 12.3: The Business Case for Reducing Food Waste
downloadUS EPA Resources for assessing wasted food
Assesment which lets you discover the amount of food which can be diverted fro donation or composting.
read now Food Waste Reduction Alliance
Best Practices and Emerging Solutions Guide
downloadRoadmap to reducing US Food Waste
Rethinking Food Waste Through Economics and Data
read now Beef Traceability Case Study
GS1 Ireland, The Musgrave Group, Kepak, DIgi Systems and Avery Berkel are all project participants for an end result traceability solution.
download Teagasc Technology Foresight
Exploring the technology expected to transform the Irish Agri-food and bioeconomy, a 2035 foresight by Teagasc.
download Guide To Good Hygiene Practice
Comprehensive guide for Country Markets to ensure good hygienic food production
download