Q. What is upcycling?
A. Upcycling is also known as creative use, and it is the process of transforming by-products, waste materials, useless or unwanted products into new materials or products of better quality and of environmental compatibility
Q. What is the role between Kontinuum R&D and upcycling?
A. Kontinuum R&D is an upcycling initiative addressing the economic dependency of food manufacturers focusing and limiting their profitability solely in maximizing primary product yields (typically the basis in forecasting Profit & Loss statements) while undervaluing their by-product or waste contribution. This well-hidden economic impact may be the “dingy” needed to achieve overall sustainability while providing market-protection via primary-product price adjustments through proper by-product credit valuation.
Q. How can one justify investing in recovering waste-streams that have been underutilized for as long as our company has been in operation?
A. Today’s corporate sustainability together with carbon footprint-reduction are mutually compatible with upcycling and are consistent with shareholder-value and have become a window for consumers’ appreciation of corporate responsibility.
Q. What does an evaluation of my waste-streams via a Phased-step Approach (PSA) mean to my company?
A. PSA is a systematic evaluation of the volume of by-product generation per unit-time together with the current disposal-cost either to the bottom-line or to the environment while defining its composition. This evaluation will include a sequential understanding of current handling practices during disposal, the by-product’s composition, their potential utility and estimated economic contribution together with the investment to realize such valorization. Ultimately, assessing a true waste/by-product credit within the overall P&L. Please visit Phased-Step Project Approach (PSPA) for further details.
Q. How can we justify to our marketing group talking about sustainability through upcycling, since we already have a sustainability program in place?
A. A discussion should be centered around making a distinction between sustainability vs. consumption! In turn, a clear case can be made by the economic impact on my company, the environment and how upcycling can be best viewed as a key & integral factor in promoting corporate responsibility. Thereby, solidifying true sustainability by maximizing resource utilization.
Q. How can my company join the front line against regional and/or world hunger?
A. According to two studies (2010 & 2011) the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO), reported that roughly one-third of food produced for human consumption, or 1.3 billion tons per year, is lost or wasted! In turn, this calculates to losses of 300 kg per capita per year.
Q. Can my company participate in the dream to achieve a hunger-free world?
A. Food losses represent a waste or misuse of resources invested in their production. This includes labor in land preparation, water, energy and costly inputs such as fertilizers. The food that is ultimately produced but not consumed, leads to carbon emissions together with the loss of its economic value. In turn, the upcycling of by-products within your company will mean less air and water pollution, water conservation and conservation of precious global resources and ultimately reducing overall food cost.