Food

Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) accounts for a significant amount of nitrogen usage in the food and beverage industry. MAP involves injecting nitrogen into beverage or food packaging to purge and displace any oxygen-containing air with nitrogen. Oxidation of lipids in food products causes rancidity. Since oxygen is replaced with dry, inert nitrogen in MAP packaging, no product oxidation will occur. The result is maximized product shelf life. 

“Companies’ emissions don't end at the factory door. CDP data shows a company's supply chain emissions are, on average, over 11.4 times greater than its direct emissions. Meaningful corporate climate action means engaging with suppliers to reduce emissions across the value chain,” said Sonya Bhonsle, Global Head of Value Chains, CDP. “We congratulate Firmenich for making it on to the CDP Supplier Engagement Leaderboard. This demonstrates that they are setting the pace in environmental management and their commitment to reduce emissions and lower environmental risks across their supply chain.”

The Group successfully cut its energy-related CO2 emissions by 60 percent in absolute terms between 2014 and 2019. Various energy-saving measures, the LEED seal-winning sustainable design of production and office locations, and the transformation to green logistics are just a few examples of the Beiersdorf Group’s uncompromising climate protection program. Since the end of 2019, 100 percent of the electricity purchased worldwide comes from renewable energy sources.

“We have a goal of zero water waste globally in 2030. As a global company, we have a responsibility to support the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and as a brewery, we have a special responsibility to reduce water waste in our global production. The new water recycling plant in Fredericia will generate important learnings that can be implemented across our breweries in the rest of the world,” says Carlsberg Group CEO, Cees ’t Hart.

Danone today announced, in December 2020, that it has been highlighted for the second year in a row as a world environmental leader by the international non-profit organization CDP, whose disclosure and scoring system is recognized as the gold standard of corporate environmental transparency.

“Since the Colgate brand is in more homes than any other, we have the opportunity to help people build sustainable habits into their everyday lives,” said Ann Tracy, Colgate’s Chief Sustainability Officer. “We are honored to be recognized by ENERGY STAR® for Colgate’s achievements in sustainability and ongoing efforts to lead action on climate change – from encouraging suppliers to reduce their energy consumption to making our operations even more energy efficient to helping consumers lead more sustainable lives through the use of our products.”

In 2021, Compressed Air Best Practices® Magazine interviewed members of the Molson Coors Canada team, at their Toronto Brewery, to gain an understanding of the work being done to improve energy efficiency. The team members interviewed were Doug Dittburner (Chief Engineer), Antonio Mayne (Utilities Optimization Engineer) and Khalil Daniel (Engineering Intern).

Micro-aerosolized droplets are how many members of the microbial world become cross-contaminants via the air mode of transmission.  Food borne viral pathogen Hepatitis A and the ubiquitous Norwalk are very often transported via micro- aerosols. It is well known that many viral or bacterial pathogens or spoilers are transmitted via respiratory bursts [coughs/ sneezes] from people or air handling system, condensate, and splash back from floors. Strict cGMPs  can limit  and control transmission in terms of personal & environmental  hygiene.

There are a tremendous variety of unique and creative ways people in the food industry have overcome their need for compressed air blowoffs used for cleaning, drying, cooling, conveying and overall processing. You may have seen some of them yourself. It is not uncommon to view open copper tubes, pipes with a crushed end, plugs or caps with holes drilled into them, modular flex coolant lines or nozzles designed for liquid application but blowing air.

The Wonderful Pistachios and Almonds campus in Lost Hills, California is a manufacturing facility that processes and packages pistachios and almonds for the consumer market. Food processing requires extensive use of compressed air to control multiple applications ranging from actuators, valves, optical sorters, packaging equipment and plant maintenance operations. The campus has its peak season during harvest in late August/early September, but processing and packaging operations take place year-round.