SUSTAINABLE FOOD PRACTICES
It is the production of food, fibre, or other plant or animal products while maintaining environmental, public health, human community, and animal welfare standards. It’s a method of food production that produces plenty while ensuring that future generations will be able to do the same.”
Sustainable foods are foods produced or processed in ways that can protect the environment and avoid wasting natural resources, without compromising the taste or quality of the products.
Mostly three types of practices are implemented in the food sectors which are mentioned below:
- Farm to table/Fork
- Nose to tail
- No waste or Zero waste Practices
FARM TO FORK/TABLE:
For years, the farm to table idea has been a thriving staple in the restaurant sector, and it is rising in popularity as people become more interested in locally sourced food and ethical meat.
In its most basic form, farm to table refers to restaurants that source their ingredients directly from a local farmer or from their own farm. The ingredients are fresher and more flavorful because they don’t have to travel large distances.
The purpose is to educate the clients about food production and consumption, and they do it by delivering healthy alternatives to processed foods that are both sustainable and enjoyable. The restaurant grows its own produce, and fruit and vegetables are sourced from farms that follow sustainable farming practices.
Sustainable practices are becoming increasingly popular in the hospitality industry, owing to the fact that it is becoming what Australian consumers have come to expect. But more than that, it’s a method of making the world a better place – one where we can enjoy good food and beverages while minimizing our influence on the environment.
NOSE TO TAIL:
Nose to tail refers to the preparation, cooking, and consumption of all parts of an animal, not simply the more frequent sections (such as intestines and trotters) (like fillets and loins). To put it another way, Nose to Tail is inspired by the slow food movement, which advocates for a greater connection to food origins and the utilization of the entire animal to reduce waste.
The nose-to-tail concept has become increasingly popular in Australia, with numerous eateries joining the movement. Four in Hand, a bar in Paddington, is one of them, with a reputation for slow-cooked, nose-to-tail meat dishes.
NO WASTE/ZEROWASTE PRACTICES:
Many firms in the food and beverage industry are well aware of the ongoing battle on food waste.
“Re” is a recent pioneer in the sustainability field, with zero-waste in every facet of the bar. everything from the interior materials to the menu’s ingredients
Several restaurants and cafes, in addition to Re, support the zero waste movement. One of these is Bronte’s Three Blue Ducks in Australia. This cafe, which is known for its outstanding breakfasts, offers takeout in biodegradable containers and distributes all of its organic trash to community gardens and local communities.
HOW TO MAKE FOOD PROCESSING MORE SUSTAINABLE?
There are four ways to be implemented by the food sectors to make the food processing more sustainable:
USE ECO-FRIENDLY PACKAGING:
Food packaging is a major source of waste and pollution. Over 78 million metric tons of plastic packaging is produced each year – only 14% of which is recycled. The vast majority of plastic is made using non-renewable sources – either oil or natural gas – and will ultimately end up in a landfill.
A growing number of manufacturers are opting for wood- and paper-based alternatives. Wood and paper have the advantage of being biodegradable, renewable and easily recyclable. It is critical, however, that the paper and wood used to make the packaging come from sustainably managed forests. Other manufacturers are developing innovative alternative packaging from biodegradable materials including seaweed, crops and even fish skin. Some of these new alternatives have the potential to replace single-use plastics.
When it comes to metal food packaging, sustainably sourced aluminum is one of the most environmentally responsible choices. Aluminum is one of the most easily and widely recycled metals – the recycling process requires only 5% of the energy it takes to refine new aluminum.
REDUCE FOOD WASTE:
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), nearly a third of food produced for human consumption gets wasted each year. This amounts to 1.3 billion tons of food waste annually. This is not only a major loss of food in itself but also of the resources used to produce it (i.e. water, soil nutrients, transportation energy, labor). While around a third of this food is wasted during the farming and post-harvest handling, and another fifth by end-consumers, almost half of all food waste stems from processing and manufacturing.
One of the main causes of food waste during processing and manufacturing is inefficiency. Food manufacturers and processors can significantly reduce food waste by optimizing their processes and management systems. This starts with carefully measuring food losses and identifying their causes. It also means ensuring that personnel are properly trained.
IMPROVE ENERGY & WATER EFFICIENCY:
Food processing and manufacturing are both energy- and water-intensive. Processing and manufacturing are responsible for about 23% of the food industry’s overall energy expenditure in the United States. Water is used extensively in food processing, both as an ingredient, and in various industrial processes (e.g. cleaning, sanitizing, cooling, cooking).
Reducing energy and water consumption can be particularly challenging in the food processing and manufacturing sector – production demands and safety requirements must come first. However, significant improvements can nonetheless be made by finding opportunities for greater efficiency. The deployment of smart meters and the implementation of energy efficiency and sustainable water management systems, for instance, can help identify and act on these opportunities.
USE SUSTAINABLE INGREDIENTS
(for more info look at: https://certification.bureauveritas.com/magazine/4-ways-make-food-processing-more-sustainable)