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Sustainability

Trends, solutions, and best practices for sustainable food and beverage operations, including energy efficiency, utility usage, water conservation, green building, and more.

]]> https://www.foodengineeringmag.com/rss/2629-sustainability en-us Looking Toward Water-Smart Cleaning and Sanitation As the call is on to conserve water and lower usage, modern cleaning and sanitation systems employ digital tools and AI to curb wasteful water usage.

]]> http://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/103695 Mon, 18 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/103695-looking-toward-water-smart-cleaning-and-sanitation Is the Food Industry Making Progress on Food Waste? Thompsona@bnpmedia.com (Alyse Thompson-Richards) Food waste poses a significant challenge across the food industry. New research reveals that while many companies recognize the issue, only a fraction set tangible reduction targets. To align actions with global best practices, measuring and reporting food waste is crucial.

]]> http://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/103676 Thu, 07 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/103676-is-the-food-industry-making-progress-on-food-waste Dairy Co-op Agri-Mark Partners with Eversource on Energy Efficiency Upgrade Agri-Mark and Eversource partnered on the installation of a high-efficiency mechanical vapor recompression unit, which is used in the production of condensed and powdered milk products. This equipment has resulted in reductions that help lower energy usage, reduce costs and support operational consistency and product quality.

]]> http://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/103672 Tue, 05 May 2026 10:41:00 -0400 https://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/103672-dairy-co-op-agri-mark-partners-with-eversource-on-energy-efficiency-upgrade Divert Opens Integrated Diversion and Energy Facility in Washington At capacity, the facility will transform the material it receives into over 235,000 MMBtu of renewable energy and 450,000 pounds of nutrient-rich fertilizer annually.

]]> http://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/103663 Thu, 30 Apr 2026 10:29:00 -0400 https://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/103663-divert-opens-integrated-diversion-and-energy-facility-in-washington Mars Secures Wind Energy from Planned Lithuanian Wind Farm The project, planned to go live in 2028, will also support the Mars pet food manufacturing facility in Lithuania, providing a secure, long-term source of renewable electricity.

]]> http://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/103662 Wed, 29 Apr 2026 09:41:00 -0400 https://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/103662-mars-secures-wind-energy-from-planned-lithuanian-wind-farm How Are Manufacturers Approaching Energy Efficiency? Thompsona@bnpmedia.com (Alyse Thompson-Richards) Rising energy costs and global pressures are pushing food manufacturers to prioritize efficiency. ABB research shows energy makes up about a quarter of operating costs, driving investments—but real gains require a holistic, system-wide approach.

]]> http://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/103627 Tue, 07 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/103627-how-are-manufacturers-approaching-energy-efficiency Barilla Touts Sustainability Improvements in Packaging, Water Management Barilla says it continues to strengthen its commitment to the responsible management of resources, from efficient water management to the design of more circular packaging solutions.

]]> http://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/103603 Fri, 27 Mar 2026 12:18:00 -0400 https://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/103603-barilla-touts-sustainability-improvements-in-packaging-water-management Aircapture, Almanac Beer Co. Debut Beer Carbonated with CO₂ from the Atmosphere Installed at Almanac's brewery in Alameda, California, Aircapture's modular direct air capture unit pulls carbon dioxide from ambient air and delivers beverage-grade liquid CO₂.

]]> http://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/103597 Tue, 24 Mar 2026 09:06:00 -0400 https://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/103597-aircapture-almanac-beer-co-debut-beer-carbonated-with-co-from-the-atmosphere End-of-Line Versus End-of-Life: Sustainability Throughout the Food Packaging Lifecycle There are two key points in the lifecycle of food packaging where sustainability gains can be made: end-of-line and end-of-life. At first glance, these terms may appear interchangeable, but they describe distinct stages of food packaging manufacturing.

]]> http://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/103596 Mon, 23 Mar 2026 10:03:00 -0400 https://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/103596-end-of-line-versus-end-of-life-sustainability-throughout-the-food-packaging-lifecycle Put Contextualized OEE Data to Use Managing Plantwide Processes While OEE is a must-have for troubleshooting line problems, contextualized OEE data with its time signatures is a key input in analyzing when and what went wrong with a plant’s total production process, including wasted product and utilities. And it can even aid in the track-and-trace process.

]]> http://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/103573 Tue, 10 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/103573-put-contextualized-oee-data-to-use-managing-plantwide-processes Mars to Purchase Renewable Energy from Swedish Wind Farm Through a long-term agreement, Mars has secured 70% of the annual production from the Kölvallen Wind Farm.

]]> http://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/103549 Wed, 25 Feb 2026 12:06:00 -0500 https://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/103549-mars-to-purchase-renewable-energy-from-swedish-wind-farm Primo Brands Unveils Solar Array at Maine Bottling Facility The ground-mounted solar array is expected to generate more than 18 million kilowatt-hours of clean electricity annually, reducing the facility’s carbon footprint while providing long-term cost predictability.

]]> http://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/103539 Thu, 19 Feb 2026 10:24:00 -0500 https://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/103539-primo-brands-unveils-solar-array-at-maine-bottling-facility Motor and Drive Sustainability: Don’t Forget to Look at the Bigger Picture As the march continues to make motor efficiency nearly 99%, the way motors are used and applied can make a big difference in the overall sustainability picture of any plant.

]]> http://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/103515 Tue, 10 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0500 https://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/103515-motor-and-drive-sustainability-dont-forget-to-look-at-the-bigger-picture Divert Secures Funding to Scale Food Waste Reduction Infrastructure Divert is accelerating its business momentum, including the buildout of its Integrated Diversion & Energy Facilities in Longview, Washington and Lexington, North Carolina, which are expected to commence operations later this year.

]]> http://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/103482 Tue, 20 Jan 2026 11:00:00 -0500 https://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/103482-divert-secures-funding-to-scale-food-waste-reduction-infrastructure AI, Sustainability and Health: Top Food Industry Trends in 2026 Thompsona@bnpmedia.com (Alyse Thompson-Richards) Last year was an eventful year for the food manufacturing industry, and FOOD ENGINEERING expects many of the major themes to carry over into 2026.

]]> http://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/103473 Tue, 20 Jan 2026 06:00:00 -0500 https://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/103473-ai-sustainability-and-health-top-food-industry-trends-in-2026 Taking a Cross-Functional Approach to Food Industry Trends Thompsona@bnpmedia.com (Alyse Thompson-Richards) Bob Garrison, chief editor of Prepared Foods, Kelley Rodriguez, editor-in-chief of Refrigerated & Frozen Foods, and Alyse Thompson-Richards, editor-in-chief of FOOD ENGINEERING, discuss the biggest trends impacting the food industry in 2025 and beyond.

]]> http://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/103465 Mon, 12 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0500 https://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/103465-taking-a-cross-functional-approach-to-food-industry-trends Vanguard Renewables Opens Second Anaerobic Digestion Facility in Wisconsin The facility can process up to 275 tons of food and beverage waste per day and will generate 289,000 MMBtu of renewable natural gas annually.

]]> http://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/103442 Fri, 26 Dec 2025 07:00:00 -0500 https://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/103442-vanguard-renewables-opens-second-anaerobic-digestion-facility-in-wisconsin Pladis Shifts Secondary U.S. Confectionery Packaging to Fully Recyclable Material Designed as secondary packaging for confectionery products, the bags aim to deliver machine performance, material strength and print quality that meets pladis’ production standards.

]]> http://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/103435 Fri, 19 Dec 2025 02:00:00 -0500 https://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/103435-pladis-shifts-secondary-us-confectionery-packaging-to-fully-recyclable-material Turning Process Loss into Performance Gains: Waste Reduction Strategies for Food Manufacturers Manufacturers that are shifting their views and approaches to waste reduction — seeing it as a critical driver of performance — are also seeing the greatest gains despite a shaky economic outlook.

]]> http://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/103416 Tue, 09 Dec 2025 12:00:00 -0500 https://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/103416-turning-process-loss-into-performance-gains-waste-reduction-strategies-for-food-manufacturers How CIP Bolsters Maintenance and Sustainability Strategies Maintenance strategies such as CIP systems come with a cost, but they are a vital component of food processing facilities – not a luxury.

]]> http://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/103399 Tue, 02 Dec 2025 00:00:00 -0500 https://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/103399-how-cip-bolsters-maintenance-and-sustainability-strategies How Solar Power Helps Food Manufacturers Control Rising Energy Costs The logistics of installing solar in food and beverage facilities aren't simple, but plenty of facilities have successfully installed solar without disruptions.

]]> http://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/103389 Tue, 25 Nov 2025 00:00:00 -0500 https://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/103389-how-solar-power-helps-food-manufacturers-control-rising-energy-costs Sustainable Barrier Coatings Replace PFAS, PE and other Plasticized Materials in Packaging Make packaging sustainable by removing plastic and PFAS and replacing them with sustainable paperboard and barrier coatings that are easily recyclable and compostable.

]]> http://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/103378 Tue, 25 Nov 2025 00:00:00 -0500 https://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/103378-sustainable-barrier-coatings-replace-pfas-pe-and-other-plasticized-materials-in-packaging IFT’s Global Food Traceability Center Launches Tool for Data Standardization The Traceability Driver is designed to make it easier for existing traceability software systems to transform their data into standardized formats, supporting sustainability and supply chain integrity by enabling seamless data exchange.

]]> http://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/103276 Thu, 25 Sep 2025 10:32:00 -0400 https://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/103276-ifts-global-food-traceability-center-launches-tool-for-data-standardization PepsiCo, Unilever Launch STEP up for Ag to Support Regenerative Agriculture STEP Up for Agriculture seeks to strengthen local organizations by equipping them with tools, training and resources needed to support farmers on the ground.

]]> http://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/103270 Thu, 18 Sep 2025 12:00:00 -0400 https://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/103270-pepsico-unilever-launch-step-up-for-ag-to-support-regenerative-agriculture Terra Oleo Raises $3.1M to Create Sustainable Palm Oil, Cocoa Butter Alternatives Terra Oleo’s platform harnesses precision fermentation to transform agro-industrial waste into palm oil ingredients and cocoa butter alternatives.

]]> http://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/103269 Thu, 18 Sep 2025 11:32:00 -0400 https://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/103269-terra-oleo-raises-31m-to-create-sustainable-palm-oil-cocoa-butter-alternatives Mars, Inc. Enters Solar Power Purchases Agreement with Enel North America The power purchase agreement includes the full output of three solar plants in Texas.

]]> http://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/103254 Fri, 12 Sep 2025 13:32:00 -0400 https://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/103254-mars-inc-enters-solar-power-purchases-agreement-with-enel-north-america UPM and EvoPak Help Walkers Chocolates Create Recyclable Paper Wrapper The collaboration brings together UPM’s Solide Lucent 45 g/m² barrier base paper with EvoPak’s RCM coating, creating a fiber-based barrier solution for chocolate and other end-uses.

]]> http://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/103251 Thu, 11 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/103251-upm-and-evopak-help-walkers-chocolates-create-recyclable-paper-wrapper Walkers Chocolates Paper Packaging The Future of Cold Storage: Innovations in Energy Efficiency Why energy efficiency matters now more than ever.

]]> http://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/103239 Thu, 04 Sep 2025 18:00:00 -0400 https://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/103239-the-future-of-cold-storage-innovations-in-energy-efficiency How Carbon Dioxide Capture and Liquefaction Supports Food Industry Revenue and Sustainability An increasing number of North American food and beverage producers are focusing on the capture and liquefaction of carbon dioxide from their waste processes to reduce costs, generate additional revenue and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

]]> http://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/103225 Thu, 28 Aug 2025 10:32:00 -0400 https://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/103225-how-carbon-dioxide-capture-and-liquefaction-supports-food-industry-revenue-and-sustainability GRAS, Food Additives and Sustainability Emerge at IFT FIRST 2025 levittm@bnpmedia.com (Michael Levitt) Regulatory changes connected to U.S. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Make America Healthy Again agenda could impact food manufacturers.

]]> http://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/103160 Fri, 25 Jul 2025 18:00:00 -0400 https://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/103160-gras-food-additives-and-sustainability-emerge-at-ift-first-2025 food ingredients Photo courtesy of GettyImages/Luis Echeverri Urrea.