SUPPLY CHAIN SUSTAINABILITY
So as businesses move to more sustainable options , what role should supply chains be playing ?
“ Supply chains should be working with companies , to be able to find where they can reduce or eliminate emissions . That happens at the source , where the emissions are created . The way we work at Better Origin , because of the flexibility we have with our systems and the autonomous element that we built in the system , all we can do is work with companies like supermarkets and go and plug our systems in the supply chain to decarbonise it . We would just go and put in our systems and convert their food waste into products that can go back onto their shelves . What you do there , is that you really start closing the loop into this food cycle or into the food supply chain .
“ You mitigate the emissions at the source by :
• Avoiding food waste
• Producing food locally
“ This also produces profit , because when you plant trees to pay for that carbon offset , there ' s nothing to return , unlike when you actually clean up your emissions using our technology . We can reduce food waste , reduce emissions and produce a product that we can then sell back into your stores . That ' s a core value of our company as well . It doesn ' t make sense the way our capitalistic society works – it ' s not going to work . You need to make money out of being sustainable .
“ That ' s why we ' ve worked a lot on a solution that can reduce emissions , while being profitable and cleaning up the emissions at the source of your supply chain . The core of what we do , to help these companies decarbonise the food supply chain ”, says Fotiadis .
From the companies that Better Origin have worked with , the response has been hopeful .
“ In the food production sector , it ' s quite a large , slow moving industry ”, says Fotiadis . “ You ' re convinced about the changes , but once they get convinced , they are quite fast to adopt . The reception so far has been very positive , even if it takes a bit of time to get them to the point of adopting .”
Consumers are growing keener to consume responsibly The world ’ s population is expected to hit 9bn in 2070 . Yet in 2020 , the UN classed 811mn people as ‘ under-nourished ’, although this was partly due to the pandemic . At Better Origin , the company has seen some promising developments arise from Covid .
“ We ' ve seen a big change after the pandemic , both from companies adopting our technology and investors ”, explains Fotiadis . “ People are finally realising that the next big crisis is the climate change crisis . The next reason we might be in a lockdown – if it ' s not another pandemic – could be adverse climate conditions .”
An environmental catastrophe , such as another flood or heat wave , could impact the food supply chain .
“ As restaurants continue to reevaluate their supply chains , a local , sustainable focus is more of an interest now than ever before ”, concludes the Michelin Guide Inspector . “ The COVID-19 crisis has accelerated our focus on the state of our planet and the responsibility we each bear . The MICHELIN Green Star has found its natural place and is strengthened every day through discussions with professionals in the industry and foodies across the world who are eager to consume more responsibly ”.
114 January 2022