Removing the plastic packaging from bakery by-products of Fazer Leipomot Oy to increase the circular economy in the food industry
Lorencova, Veronika (2022)
2022
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2022052311223
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2022052311223
Tiivistelmä
This Bachelor’s thesis looks at a way to increase the circular economy in the food industry by effectively upcycling bakery by-products of the Finnish company Fazer Leipomot Oy. The goal of this study is to find an effective solution to depack the bakery by-products from plastics. Then they can be dried, grinded, and eventually used for further processing.
The thesis consists of a theory section and an empirical section that deals with the research considering the case company’s problem. The theory section discusses the role of the circular economy in general and then its role in the food industry. The empirical part focuses on finding the solution for the case company to upcycle their bakery by-products more effectively, starting with tackling the very first issue of unpacking them from plastics.
The study was based on qualitative methods. Firstly, the role of bread waste and its recycling possibilities were researched. Secondly, theme interviews were carried out with food industry professionals from various companies across the globe. Nine key representatives from those companies were interviewed.
The interviews showed which legal aspects the author should focus on. Further on, the possibility of using the grinded bakery by-products for animal feed production was discussed. Three companies manufacturing the unpacking and grinding machinery were contacted and interviewed. The answers brought cost estimates, benefits, and possible challenges for the commissioning company.
Although the machinery would be a possible solution for Fazer Leipomot Oy, the major money investment must be considered. But, as the whole idea enhances the overall sustainability of the food industry, a request for governmental funding could be requested. With this kind of help, Fazer Leipomot Oy could come up with a business plan to sell the grinded bakery by-products. As already researched, there would be demand on the Finnish animal feed production market. Nevertheless, as this study dealt with only the unpacking from plastics part of the process, no marketing research has been conducted yet. This should be a subject for further research.
The thesis consists of a theory section and an empirical section that deals with the research considering the case company’s problem. The theory section discusses the role of the circular economy in general and then its role in the food industry. The empirical part focuses on finding the solution for the case company to upcycle their bakery by-products more effectively, starting with tackling the very first issue of unpacking them from plastics.
The study was based on qualitative methods. Firstly, the role of bread waste and its recycling possibilities were researched. Secondly, theme interviews were carried out with food industry professionals from various companies across the globe. Nine key representatives from those companies were interviewed.
The interviews showed which legal aspects the author should focus on. Further on, the possibility of using the grinded bakery by-products for animal feed production was discussed. Three companies manufacturing the unpacking and grinding machinery were contacted and interviewed. The answers brought cost estimates, benefits, and possible challenges for the commissioning company.
Although the machinery would be a possible solution for Fazer Leipomot Oy, the major money investment must be considered. But, as the whole idea enhances the overall sustainability of the food industry, a request for governmental funding could be requested. With this kind of help, Fazer Leipomot Oy could come up with a business plan to sell the grinded bakery by-products. As already researched, there would be demand on the Finnish animal feed production market. Nevertheless, as this study dealt with only the unpacking from plastics part of the process, no marketing research has been conducted yet. This should be a subject for further research.