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Circular Economy a Sustainable Food Production, Consumption Model

By Eugenio Marin - Fundación México-Estados Unidos para la Ciencia-FUMEC
CEO

STORY INLINE POST

By Eugenio MarÍn | CEO - Thu, 03/09/2023 - 09:00

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Today, linear food production is a great factor in pollution resulting from waste at a global level; that is, from production to consumption, millions of tons of materials involved in distribution are the main factor in the generation of these contaminants.

The new model of circular production is based on the fact that resources are maintained within the economy for as long as possible. Each element of waste must contribute to this circularity and be returned as raw materials for new industries, thereby avoiding natural resources scarcity.

In general, this aims to mitigate the impact on the environment by reducing the consumption of natural resources by reutilizing them; for example, reusing and recycling wooden racks, cardboard boxes, aluminum cans and glass containers, among others,  it lengthens the life of their economic cycle.

In turn, this activity encourages innovation in new production models based on the reuse of waste, which generates jobs. Many industries also benefit from access to these recycled raw materials, avoiding dependence on sources of supply outside the region.

The central pillars of sustainability are governed by 3 Rs: Recycling, Reducing, and Reusing. Additionally, the circular economy establishes 4 Rs, where innovation and the generation of new industries are encouraged: Redesign, Repair, Renew and Recover are the rules to generate a virtuous circle. This implies that companies must innovate in their management model, thereby fostering a commitment to positively impact sustainability to generate economic returns.

The US-Mexico Foundation for Science (FUMEC), throughout its history, has supported SMEs developing innovation in their business management models, where opportunities must be defined and based on market trends and the needs of consumers in each sector. In this way, impacts transit from one new management model to another involving specific activities that require systematic change and paradigm-breaking to achieve visible and tangible changes. In turn, the strategy of transitioning to these new management models must be aligned with new regulations and applicable law on environmental issues in each region.

In terms of implementation, it is essential to interact with different stakeholders throughout the value chain of each activity, thereby identifying key critical points that must be worked on collaboratively.

Within each organization, work groups must achieve a clear agenda, defined by strategic lines, with specific and precise indicators, in addition to clear leadership that can permeate the culture of the company’s associates.

A key challenge to move from a linear system to a circular system can be, for example, a strategy where most of the income is generated by products made with virgin materials and, in turn, have a recovery system that produces the least amount of possible waste, creating reverse logistics for the consumer and encouraging them to return a package or some component of it.

Another example would be the extraction, treatment, circularity, and use of steam for the production of food in the canned products industry, where 70 percent of the water used must reach high temperatures to guarantee innocuous processes. Most of this hot liquid goes directly to the discharge area when its function is completed. However, this steam can be directed to a boiler in order to accelerate thermal processes. Another use of this steam energy could be used to quickly increase  the temperature of ovens and cooking equipment, running through heat exchangers in  equipment walls. This would seem to be quite sophisticated but it is currently used in the industry through innovation by adapting and reconditioning industrial buildings.

Organizations’ technical and administrative capabilities must be combined to generate innovation. It is imperative to move to circular production systems, a trend with no returning point. Today, the Earth is providing us with profound lessons of which we must achieve a degree of awareness of challenges to conserve our resources. Companies must report on their progress and commitment with tangible and measurable metrics. The circular economy is not a proposal just for marketing purposes.

As consumers and the main managers of this change, we must continue to be the grand jury overseeing this industry. We will see significant changes from the information we can obtain through labels, packaging, and new product proposals. Let's not forget that technology will be on our side, we will be able to continue observing the evolution of the brands to these circular systems with each single click on our smartphones at any time.

In this way, consumers and brands will know if we have transcended and if our participation within a supply chain is collaborative. The more shelves we see painted with green labels in supermarkets, the more aware we will be, realizing that we are part of the change. Informing us, we will be part of the task ahead. A single purpose must be greater than any other: taking care of our wonderful planet for future generations.

(In collaboration of Lizadeth Sato Quintero)

Photo by:   Eugenio Marin

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