Waste not, want not: Food waste in Canada
Food manufacturers know all too well that food loss during production is a financial and environmental liability.
Food loss at the factory level can occur in several areas such as quality control, production changes, and changes in supply and demand. It’s estimated that nearly 60% — or 35.5. million tonnes — of food produced in Canada is lost and wasted each year. Of that, 32% is still edible.
Some degree of food waste is inevitable during manufacturing, but that waste doesn’t all need to end up in landfill. With the circular economy gaining traction and ESG concerns at an all-time high, there are clever ways for manufacturers to capitalize on their waste streams — but they’ll need to think a little differently.
“You have to stop thinking of yourself as a company that creates a certain product and instead think about the resources you have and how you can use them to produce as much value as possible,” says HBS assistant professor Deishin Lee.
It’s time to pivot the way we think about waste. Food waste is no longer a manufacturer’s trash: it’s treasure.
Giving waste a second life
There are clear benefits to reducing and repurposing your company’s food waste. Reducing food loss means better ESG scores — but it can also mean a better bottom line.
Many companies are unaware of the incentives available for waste reduction. For example, the Government of Canada has been offering financial incentives to companies that reduce their waste through their Food Waste Reduction Challenge. Finding ways to rethink the way your company handles and disposes of waste can lead to a new stream of revenue — one you might not previously have considered.
Food waste can be transformed into all sorts of valuable materials, including compost, bioenergy, natural fertilizers, new products, pharmaceuticals, and even building materials. Some companies even convert the methane that is produced from food waste and use it to power homes. Other forms of food waste can be converted into bioplastics (plastic produced from a renewable source) and repurposed as packaging, coatings, and adhesives. Material flows like these form the basis of the circular economy — an economic system where goods that would have otherwise been discarded are instead upcycled and reenter the chain to further production.
PRI Environmental works with food manufacturers in Quebec and Ontario to reuse waste such as flour, baked goods, crackers, and cereals for conversion into nutritious, high-quality animal and pet foods. Almost any organic matter will find a home with us — and we’ll make sure you’re paid for it. For every tonne of bakery food waste we upcycle, we generate $50-$100 in value for our clients.
How PRI Environmental can help convert your food waste into revenue
Since the 1960s, PRI Environmental has been diverting waste from landfills in Canada. Operating out of Ontario and Quebec, our goal is to upcycle, reuse, and responsibly manage waste in our country and convert that waste into revenue.
We help you conduct detailed waste audits (where sources of waste are identified and linked to certain areas of production) and product loss audits (where your facility and its operations are evaluated from an efficiency, waste, and emissions perspective).
We process up to 2,500 tonnes of food waste per week, saving up to 1,315 tonnes of CO2 each time. We convert your waste into animal feed, making sure that it’s safe and healthy for animals to consume.
Interested in learning more about PRI Environmental’s waste recovery options? Contact us today.