< Previous40 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net WAREHOUSING AND OPTIMISATION practices that are inefficient or no longer needed, and removing them, can help to free up budget. This should always be considered first but is usually also the first thing to be noticed, so isn’t worth talking about too much. The other four are much more important. The first is space utilisation. This encompasses all methods by which space can be used more effectively, which includes things like investing in more rigid racking systems to allow for vertical storage, or even adding mezzanines for second floors. It also highlights the importance of aisle width, as even a few inches saved by tightening aisles could create an additional aisle when adopted across an entire warehouse. Of course, space needs to run hand in hand with safety, as it’s easy to prioritise too much and make aisles too thin, or stacks too high, and place workers at risk, or just make it much too inconvenient to reach goods, and thus cause delays. The second point to consider is inventory location – how easy is it to find where a needed good or pallet is kept, and how visible is it at a glance? Automated systems and software can help here and should be employed at every stage to ensure that when a vehicle arrives, staff know exactly where the products they’re looking for are stored and, ideally, the most efficient way to get them to the vehicle in the shortest amount of time. Tying onto inventory location is inventory accuracy, which remains one of the most problematic issues in many warehouses. It’s not unusual to have cases where a system tells you where 39-41.qxp_Layout 1 22/11/2022 09:39 Page 2Food & Drink International 41 www.fdiforum.net WAREHOUSING AND OPTIMISATION products should be, only to find they are not there. Usually, it’s not the system at fault but user error – either in inputs into the system, or with people misusing of skipping the system entirely and storing goods somewhere else. No software system will fix a warehouse if employees are making mistakes, and if goods are not where the system says they should be. Increased training in how to handle new software is important here, as most of these mistakes tend to occur in the weeks and months after a new system is introduced. Other times, however, it can be when existing staff do not see the need to change the way they do things, and thus ignore or resist changes put on them by warehouse managers. The final point, and one that can often be most expensive, is that of picking optimisation. Accurately knowing where products are, and how to get there, is no good if the efficiency at which they are collected and brought for distribution is at fault. Picking can be optimised with automated systems and expensive new forklifts in a pinch, but it can also sometimes be streamlined with consultation, planning and changed routes – which can be much more affordable than a complete hardware overhaul. As always, the long vs the short term does need to be kept in mind, as increased automation does tend to save money over time. That said, with recent pains over the lockdown and now fresh ones due to the war in Ukraine, it may be understandable that large investments are not at the forefront of the minds of warehouse operators. © stock.adobe.com/hacohob 39-41.qxp_Layout 1 22/11/2022 09:39 Page 342 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net RECYCLING AND WASTE MANAGEMENT not Food waste has always been a glaring issue for the sector. With consumers demanding more action, microplastics in the ocean, fish and even human blood – and now with wastewater being pumped into rivers in the UK – effective waste management, and wastewater management, are more important than ever before. Waste 42-45.qxp_Layout 1 22/11/2022 09:40 Page 1Food & Drink International 43 www.fdiforum.net RECYCLING AND WASTE MANAGEMENT © stock.adobe.com/panaramka B usiness accountability and sustainability have been buzz words for a long time, but with added focus and COP27 taking place, they are more important than ever. The desire to appeal to consumers with an ethical and environmentally minded approach to business, as well as the potential money saving benefits to efficient running operations and waste management systems are important for all modern enterprises to consider. Food and drink manufacturers are major waste producers, and concern over food waste and packaging, and where it ends up (our oceans and, in recent times, even our own blood!), is increasing, with demand across societies for more sustainable and responsible waste management growing. Manufacturers in the past have been more than happy to let waste companies simply take waste off site, with little extra thought. Now, though, there is greater understanding over the value of waste produced and opportunity to address costs. Across the industry efforts are homing in on reducing waste, avoiding disposal, and circular approaches are striving to keep raw materials in use, designing out waste, and ensuring the waste from one process is the input for another. Wastewater, especially, is valuable for this, as it is far cheaper in the long run to be able to re-use water time and time again, than to keep bringing more in. Circular principles are being incorporated into all processes and products - from research and development to production, companies are minimising the number of materials required and waste generated in the manufacture and use of products, increasing reused and recycled content of materials used directly and within supply chains, and maximising the amount of waste recycled to slash what is sent to landfill. Similarly, reduction in packaging to reduce waste is important, but cannot alone solve the issue – as food will always require some degree of packaging. Therefore, the attention is not only on reduction, but how to better ensure the end product is 44 Á 42-45.qxp_Layout 1 22/11/2022 09:40 Page 244 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net RECYCLING AND WASTE MANAGEMENT recycled. In a sense, there are two angles to consider for food manufacturers: how they, themselves, can deal with their own waste created in the manufacturing process, and how their consumers will dispose of the waste left after consuming their product. It might seem unfair for a company to have to consider both, but that is very much the way it is, and there is little hope in that changing. Instead, companies need to look for ways to make recycling easier for consumers, while also balancing their own costs and needs when it comes to dealing with their own waste – all the while, being expected to meet net-zero targets across various countries and continents. It is a great challenge, but one that can be as much an opportunity as a disadvantage, as those who fail will likely see their market share damaged, allowing more flexible companies who are quicker to adapt to snatch up extra profits. It’s not only food and packaging waste that needs to be considered, however, as recent scandals in the UK have drawn attention to water and wastewater. The cornerstones of water treatment involve the treating and safe release/disposal of water used in business processes back into the environment. This can have major ecological impacts when handled ineffectively, harming biodiversity and causing ecological, as well as environmental, damage. We live in a world where these factors are prized more than ever by consumers and customers who, in a more digital world, are quick to find fault and criticise brands and companies who cause damage to the landscape. Wastewater – and waste management in general – represents not only copious amounts of greenhouse gas, but damaging environmental waste that can impact entire ecosystems, changing concentrations of animals, pests and © stock.adobe.com/panaramka 42-45.qxp_Layout 1 22/11/2022 09:40 Page 3Food & Drink International 45 www.fdiforum.net RECYCLING AND WASTE MANAGEMENT insects in ways that can upset natural habitats. Water is used extensively in food and drink manufacturing, which makes it a key concern for brands to consider, especially those in the UK with the current attention on the issue. One doesn’t have to look far to see timely and topical examples of water treatment done wrong, as the UK Government was recently highlighted for decisions that allowed treatment works to pump raw sewage into the UK’s rivers which, a new report has found, was known to be happening by the Environment Agency ten years ago. The report found that in 2012, it was known that United Utilities were dumping raw sewage into rivers in north-west regions and were failing to treat the required amount of sewage as agreed by their permits. The fact it has only come to light now has led many to anger and will place more attention on water treatment and wastewater disposal going forward as the Government, and concerned groups, try to limit the damage. Since then, Anglian Water have been fined over £800,000 for breaches and pollution incidents in Cambridgeshire, Buckinghamshire and Northamptonshire, which has led for calls for their other sites to be investigated as well. One incident was said to have caused the deaths of every invertebrate in the river for 1.5 kilometres, which will have disastrous knock-on effects for all animals for which they were a part of the food chain. AstellBio manufacture thermal effluent decontamination systems (EDS) for sterilising up to 6300L per day. Visit AstellBio.com to find out more. AstellBio.com THERMAL WASTEWATER STERILISATION The AstellBio Sink & Autoclave Combo The perfect sterilisation station for autoclaveable materials and liquid waste The AstellBio Micro EDS A plumb-in effluent decontamination system which automatically sterilises wastewater using hea t Chemical sterilant and disinfectant free TheAs & Auto The perfect for autocla and m The AstellBio Sink Liquids washed down the sink are sterilised withheat before being despatched to thedrain © stock.adobe.com/toa555 42-45.qxp_Layout 1 22/11/2022 09:40 Page 4Attendees include representatives from all over the world including operation and plant managers, purchasing agents, engineers, and researchers from the world’s top companies. Packaging Innovations & Empack 15 - 16 February NEC Birmingham, UK Packaging Innovations & Empack, featuring Contract Pack & Fulfilment, is the UK’s essential annual event driving business and innovation across the entire packaging journey. Visitors will find suppliers across the whole range of packaging products and services – from design to innovative primary and secondary packaging to contract packing, e-commerce fulfilment, labelling and printing, as well as packing and processing technology. Together, these events give a unique vision of the whole packaging journey, from concept to production, and give you the ideal place to create the future of your brand. Gulfood 20 - 24 February Dubai World Trade Centre, UAE Driving creativity and change, in Fi Europe 28 November - 8 December Online & Paris Expo Porte de Versailles, France It’s time to look forward. New partnerships, new innovations, and new trends – the dynamic F&B industry is evolving rapidly. And with it, Fi Europe is evolving to offer you the best opportunities to connect with new ingredients buyers or suppliers, showcase your products & solutions, generate leads, and learn from some of the leading experts in the industry. IPPE 24 - 26 January Georgia World Congress Center, USA The International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE) is a collaboration of three shows - International Feed Expo, International Meat Expo, and the International Poultry Expo - showcasing the latest technology, equipment, supplies and services used in the production and processing of eggs, meat, and poultry, and those involved in animal food manufacturing. The event offers the largest variety of education and interactive exhibits for everyone from feed to fork, in the egg, poultry and meat industries. 46 Food & Drink International www.fdiforum.net Events Food & Drink © stock.adobe.com/ pressmaster Food Safety Europe 2023 1 February 133 Houndsditch London, UK This one-day conference will deliver invaluable insights and high-level, constructive knowledge share, designed specifically to improve European food safety management in retail, food service, and manufacturing environments. It will be filled with informative and insightful presentations and panel sessions from food safety experts. February 2023, the 28th edition of Gulfood will continue to unite food and beverage communities around the world, and act as an industry trend springboard and a global sourcing powerhouse. Join the event as over 4,000 companies from more than 120 countries, a line-up of industry thought leaders, and the world’s greatest chefs chart the way forward and inspire industry-wide transformation for the good of the entire ecosystem. © stock.adobe.com/ elnariz 46-47.qxp_Layout 1 22/11/2022 09:41 Page 1AFFI-CON 25 - 28 February Manchester Grand Hyatt, USA AFFI-CON is the premier business event for frozen food and beverage makers, industry suppliers and logistical partners. It brings together over 500 companies and 1,500+ attendees in a single location, allowing them to meet one-on-one to discuss current and future business opportunities. The focus of this event is networking and getting business done. The average attendee will have 20+ private business meetings that will lay the foundation for their year. If frozen foods are your business, AFFI-CON is a can’t miss event! Retail Supply Chain & Logistics Expo 28 February - 1 March ExCeL London, UK Retail Supply Chain & Logistics is the event you need to be attending in 2023 if you want to transform your supply chain and take your business to the next level. The event will bring you the latest technology, trends, and strategies in an exciting hub for the retail and supply chain sector, to help you see exponential growth and success for your business. The 2023 event boasts an exclusive platform of 200 exhibitors who are shaping the future of the industry and eager to share their products and services to a cohort of 3,000 defining leaders. Not to mention Keynote sessions held by world renowned experts ready to share the tools on how to take your business to the next level! Vertical Farming Middle East Congress 12 - 14 December Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers, United Arab Emirates Building on the success of the Vertical Farming World Congress, this inaugural regional event will connect leading international and regional vertical farm operators and suppliers from the Middle East alongside Government authorities, advisers, customers, and media. With the theme of ‘Strategy for Self- Sufficiency’, the three-day event will include multiple presentations and panels, two evening receptions, round tables for best practice development and vertical farm tours in Dubai as well as Abu Dhabi. Food & Drink International 47 www.fdiforum.net FRUIT LOGISTICA 8 - 10 February Berlin, Germany Exhibitors from 86 countries and trade visitors attend FRUIT LOGISTICA every year to realize their full business potential within the international fresh produce trade – and to write their own success story! FRUIT LOGISTICA covers every single sector of the fresh produce business and provides a complete picture of the latest innovations, products and services at every link in the international supply chain. It thus offers superb networking and contact opportunities to the key decision-makers in every sector of the industry. © stock.adobe.com/ travelbook 46-47.qxp_Layout 1 22/11/2022 09:41 Page 2FEATURES Health, Safety & Hygiene Spotlight Cartoning & Sleeving Conveying Pumps & Fluids Sorting & Weighing Bakery & Confectionery New Year – New Suppliers Import & Export EVENT PREVIEWS Fruit Logistica Next month in January 2023 - Deadline 7th December INTERNATIONAL Visit us at www.fdiforum.net where you’ll find the latest news as it breaks – and why not subscribe to our newsletters so you can have the latest news emailed to your inbox, in between printed issues? 48.qxp_Layout 1 22/11/2022 09:42 Page 1Classified You can feature your company in our hugely popular Online Directory with a description, contact details and a hyperlink If you would like further information please contact Vicky Hunt on +44 [0] 1472 310310 or email v.hunt@blmgroup.co.uk or visit www.fdiforum.net/directory From field to fork, Food & Drink International is the voice of the industry. Food & Drink International 49 www.fdiforum.net Depositors Manufacturers of depositors & filling machines for the food production industry Labels • Self adhesive Labels • Lasersheets • Fanfolded Labels • Thermal Transfer Ribbons • Barcode Labels INDEX Online Directory Depositors Labels To Let www. fdiforum .net • Superb Location • Secure off street parking • High speed internet availability • A range of affordable office sizes Armstrong House, Armstrong Street, Grimsby DN31 2QE Tel: (01472) 310301 Email: s.fisher@blmgroup.co.uk Ground floor offices to let - prime location in Grimsby To Let Online Directory To advertise your services on the 49.qxp_Layout 1 22/11/2022 09:42 Page 1Next >