What steps can be taken to reduce the environmental impact in fruit processing?
Reducing the environmental impact of fruit processing requires a combination of energy efficiency, waste reduction, and sustainable practices at every stage of the fruit ingredient production process.
Waste management & by-product utilisation
As Avondale Foods has grown as a business, larger focus has been on reducing waste before, during and after the transformation process, as well as managing the fruit waste we can’t avoid.
Most fruits have parts that aren’t typically consumed, especially apple – which occupies most of our production hours at Avondale Foods. Core, stalks, carpel & skin are repurposed as stock feed, with many surrounding property and stock owners taking advantage of the product.
During mango processing season, seed waste is repurposed by local landscaping companies and composted into soil and garden fertilizers.
Water treatments & efficient use of water
In the production of fruit for processing, using drip irrigation systems and moisture sensors ensures that fruit is not overwatered, as well as minimizing water waste.
Later during the final fruit processing, filtration and treatment systems for wastewater are installed to ensure that all contaminants are removed before the water is discharged.
Energy efficiency
The use of energy efficient equipment can significantly reduce environmental impact while lowering operational costs. One example is the use of energy-efficient refrigeration systems such as high-efficiency compressors and even natural refrigerants like CO2 or ammonia to reduce energy consumption in cool storage.
Using automated optical sorters makes the production process more energy efficient, as they reduce waste by improving accuracy in detection of defects. This in turn minimizes the need for unnecessary processing or overprocessing.
Sustainable Packaging
Plastic pallecons, metal drums and bins are all owned by Avondale and reused for the transport of finished Avondale products. This not only reduces the cost of the finishing, packaging and delivery process, but is also best practice as far as sustainability and use of resources is concerned.
With our smaller format products, the use of recyclable and biodegradable cartons and packaging allows us and our customers to be more environmentally conscious, reusing the cartons where possible, and reducing our impact on the environment.
Reduced Chemical Use & Sustainable sourcing
While the use of natural preservatives and chemicals is necessary in producing a high-quality fruit ingredient with an extended shelf life, we make sure all additives are natural and sustainably sourced. Minimising the use of synthetic chemicals in processing, and replacing them with natural alternatives where possible, contributes to an overall lesser environmental impact of our production process, from wastewater to the final product.
Sourcing our fruit sustainably is also a contributing factor to lowering our environmental footprint, working with farmers and growers who practice regenerative agriculture, on occasion organic farming, and integrated pest management.
Supply Chain & Logistics Optimisation
Sourcing much of our fruit locally, even growing some of it on our own orchard premises, helps us reduce our carbon footprint by sourcing raw materials closer to our processing facilities.
The transportation of our products is a large factor in our carbon footprint, so making this as eco-friendly as possible is key. With the use of fuel-efficient vehicles, and working in with the routes and timeframes of nearby transport companies, we can minimize our emissions, all while optimizing our transport logistics.
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