LAWR

FOOD WASTE Is the food chain missing a closed-loop link? The circular economy is certainly a hot topic in the UK, but how many people consider a closed loop when it comes to food waste, asks SugaRich group director Paul Featherstone. here is no disputing that the concept of the circular economy is gathering momen- tum in the UK, as the country strives to improve its approach to resource efficiency and sustainabil- ity. The social, environmental and fis- cal benefits of this restorative model are being more widely discussed and acknowledged. What's more, both the industry and wider policy makers are actively talking about the long-term growth that can be achieved as a result of closed loop thinking. But are opportunities still being over- looked? We frequently hear the circular economy being talked about in reference to consumer goods such as furniture, clothing and plastic bottles. It is also becoming an increasingly debated topic in specialist fields including design, man- ufacturing and engineering. However, when it comes to food 'waste', is the thinking similarly 'rounded'? Or, when considering the food chain, do too many people still picture only a linear model? Yes, food waste is a widely-recog- nised issue in the UK, and indeed fur- ther afield. Last year, for example, the Institution of Mechanical Engineers shockingly revealed that an estimated 30-50% of food produced around the world never reaches a human stomach (Global Food: Waste Not, Want Not report). The UK is working hard to try and tackle its food waste problem. But when the production of food waste is unavoid- able, it is important that there is a 'plan B'. This explains why the buzz surround- ing anaerobic digestion and composting is getting louder – companies are contin- ually investigating ways to prevent tra- ditional, costly and inefficient disposal. However, under the principles of the waste hierarchy, energy recovery is only marginally better than landfill. So, when the circular economy is such a hot topic in the UK, shouldn't there be more joined-up thinking, which better acknowledges food as a resource, not a waste, and strives to keep valuable nutri- ents in the food chain? The food chain itself is an age-old con- cept but it seems there may have been a missing link all this time, because technological innovations and progres- sive resource efficiency thinking can transform this linear sequence into a circular model. Starch rich foods including bread, bis- cuits and cakes, for example, can be recovered from food manufacturing and retail organisations, when factors such as production errors or elapsed sell-by dates prevent their sale. Whilst these products may be considered unsuitable for human consumption, they still con- tain many valuable nutrients. Using carefully developed and strin- gently controlled methodologies, they can be reprocessed and converted into nourishing animal feeds. Blended to suit farmers' specific requirements, such feeds improve the quality of livestock products that people subsequently eat, hence closing the food chain loop. In keeping with the circular econo- my's principle of minimal raw material usage, this specialist manufacturing pro- cess requires only by-products of exist- ing food manufacturing processes, not primary resources. Perhaps most crucially though, the very nature of this process brings food waste into focus. If, as an industry, we are to truly com- mit to the UK's resource agenda, then waste hierarchy compliance within the food sector is essential. The key thing is to remember the waste hierarchy. Food can become a part of the circular phenomenon, which brings with it some very exciting opportunities indeed. Paul Featherstone is group director of surplus food processor SugaRich. 16 Local Authority Waste & Recycling July 2014 T Food waste in the UK costs £12.5bn a year, according to WRAP

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