Last month, during the VMT Food Event, it seemed virtually the only subject of interest for the food industry. Less water, less energy, less waste, alternate raw materials, improved processes. Everything was on the agenda because the Sustainable Food Industry deals with everything and everyone. From manufacturing to maintenance, from marketing to sourcing and from sales to product development.
The CSR performance ladder, which was developed in the infrastructure sector, has made an appearance. Of course, this hardly comes as a surprise, in a world where supermarkets are already experimenting with including our groceries’ carbon footprint on the receipt. We can already use our smartphones to check the carbon footprint of our food products, via apps provided by manufacturers and retailers. Fortunately, manufacturers have stopped simply ‘greenwashing’ their processes. The major food companies are showing that they mean business in this area.
For Imtech, it is a tremendous challenge to help our customers in this development. A development that requires Open Innovation between customer and supplier. An innovation within which we connect the knowledge and technology of our companies to a maximum extent with the knowledge of our customers, in order to jointly arrive at intelligent solutions. Or – as Nestlé wrote in its most recent R&D strategy – ‘Partner or Perish’.
Harrij Schmeitz
Coordinator, Imtech Food & Feed Competence Centre
M +316 20 30 30 92
harrij.schmeitz@imtech.nl
www.foodandfeed.nl
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