Zero Waste Co. are a leading company providing tailored, comprehensive solutions for managing potential waste streams, from identification and storage to characterization and valorisation. Zero Waste Co leverage data and technology to innovate valorisation processes, transforming less into more, and delivering sustainable, traceable, and profitable outcomes for their clients.
Introduction
When organic waste is sent to landfills, few stop to ask, could this have value? Transforming waste into value is a revolutionary approach that challenges the status quo of industrial waste management. Organic waste in landfills leads to pest infestations, putrefaction, leachate, and methane gas—a significant contributor to climate change. However, with a foundation built on sustainable principles, these consequences can be reversed. What was once considered waste can be optimized and reintroduced as valuable byproducts.
The recently released 2024 Food Waste Index Report, published by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), highlights the urgent need to improve processes in the agro-industrial and dairy-meat industries to mitigate climate change. These efforts must also address, published by compensatory actions to offset environmental greenhouse gas emissions caused by industrial activities. But how can these needs be linked in a 360-waste solution?
According to the report, “Food waste is defined as food and inedible parts associated with food removed from the human food supply chain”. A circular food system considers practical applications for all organic material streams, including animal feed and soil health. Addressing the problem requires a holistic view of natural cycles. As the report further states, “Byproducts typically considered inedible can help enhance food security.”
The Growing Importance of Organic Byproduct Valorisation
The agro-industrial ecosystem consists of actors who struggle to assign value to their byproducts and reintegrate them into other production chains. For instance, organic byproducts and other waste streams are often sent to landfills or incinerated, contributing to resource waste, greenhouse gas emissions, and economic losses.
Zero Waste Company has evolved from an intermediary role to becoming a developer of comprehensive 360-degree solutions for managing organic waste and byproducts. Instead, we actively develop and implement holistic solutions that transform organic waste into valuable resources, thereby reducing environmental impact and creating economic value.
This process, visualized through a streamlined flow—from waste valorization to generation of carbon credits valuation—is key to creating a sustainable ecosystem. By promoting collaboration across sectors, ZWCo. not only closes resource loops but also fosters a circular economy.
The Future of Animal Feed and Circular Livestock Farming
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provides a hierarchy for reducing the environmental impacts of wasted food: prevention, donation, animal feed, composting or anaerobic digestion, and soil improvement. It’s important to note that these strategies are not mutually exclusive. Materials unsuitable for human consumption can often be repurposed as animal feed, particularly for ruminants with complex digestive systems capable of processing a wider range of organic materials. This approach ensures that food resources are utilized to their fullest potential before considering options like composting.
Take, for example, fruit peels from industrial processes. If unfit for human consumption, they undergo evaluation for conversion into animal feed ingredients. If deemed unsuitable, they may still serve as compost or soil enhancers. This cascading approach ensures that resources are utilized effectively, minimizing waste.
The use of byproducts in animal feed, such as silage or innovative feed formulas, exemplifies the potential of circular livestock farming. This approach reduces reliance on virgin raw materials, lowering costs for farmers and alleviating environmental pressure. For instance, livestock producers benefit economically from lower feed costs while contributing to reduced resource extraction and emissions.
Carbon Credits and Waste Valorization
ZWCo’s role extends beyond byproduct transformation. The company’s process includes four key steps: identifying waste streams, valorizing them, commercializing the resulting byproducts, and quantifying their environmental impact on carbon credits. This comprehensive approach addresses critical environmental challenges:
- Waste management: Preventing waste from reaching landfills or incineration facilities.
- Circular livestock farming: Encouraging efficient and sustainable resource use in animal husbandry.
- Emissions reduction: Capturing value in organic streams instead of generating greenhouse gases.
The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), established under the Kyoto Protocol, enables industries to earn carbon credits by supporting sustainable projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. These credits can be traded or used to meet emission targets. ZWCo has developed methodologies within the CDM framework to quantify carbon credits. These credits help manufacturing industries offset their carbon footprint while financing climate mitigation initiatives, creating a closed-loop system that integrates waste management with carbon compensation.
Conclusion
Industries such as the meat and dairy sectors use large amounts of natural resources, presenting significant challenges for global sustainability. According to the FAO, livestock occupies 26% of the Earth’s land surface, and 33% of arable land is used to produce feed for livestock. Additionally, the extraction of raw materials, such as water and land, to supply these industries contributes significantly to environmental degradation and biodiversity loss.
Transforming waste into resources is a cornerstone of future sustainability. By leveraging organic byproducts, companies can reduce their environmental footprint, drive economic benefits, and contribute to global food security. Zero Waste Company catalyzes this transition, facilitating the shift toward a circular economy where waste is redefined as a valuable asset.
We invite businesses to rethink their waste streams and join initiatives like those led by ZWCo. Together, we can maximize positive impacts on our planet, redefine waste management, and secure a sustainable future.
