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Energy deviations from expected standards in quality can lead to a product being rejected by customers .
Automation plays a key role in the move to sustainability as well . Optimizing processes and reducing waste are key components of the drive for more sustainable production . However , due to the rising energy costs , it ’ s finally time for producers to address whether their process of operations is really as energy efficient as it could be . When utilized effectively , processors can achieve their sustainability goals , but as it stands financially , companies may not be able to survive the mounting automation costs .
Pasteurization ; a technology past its prime ?
A tried and tested method to purify liquid products , pasteurization is a critical pillar of the food and beverage production sector . The process has existed for nearly hundreds of years , and over time manufacturers have continued to streamline the process to improve product quality and reduce waste for increased production capacity .
Pasteurization involves killing any harmful bacteria by heating the product to at least 72 ° C for at least 15 seconds , ensuring that it is safe to consume whilst also prolonging its shelf-life . The process needs to be efficient enough to reliably kill any harmful microbes without affecting the taste or nutritional value of the product .
But like with all technology and processes as time goes on , eventually tried and tested processes become outdated and overtaken by up-and-coming technologies . Pasteurization , especially in the current energy crisis , has become an inefficient production in comparison to the rise of its newer technology counterparts . Beverage processing lines producing dairy , juice and soda cannot afford to maintain the high demands of energy needed to rapidly heat and cool products over and over .
Sustainability in the current energy climate
Whilst it may be easier for companies to stick with the technology and processes that they already know , it is important to explore alternative avenues to bypass the stresses of the energy climate entirely .
Within the food and drink industry , process energy reduction and adopting more optimized processes can be a struggle . Processes such as pasteurization often lack sufficient monitoring to track energy consumption , and so realizing there is a need to cut down drastically on energy use may be a step taken far too late .
Food and beverage producers at every level must take steps toward more sustainable practices and move away from those with high energy demands . Thankfully , well-tested green technologies are available and are ready to take over from legacy equipment and practices that have existed for so long . It ’ s just a matter of companies choosing to take the first steps towards adopting these exciting innovations to reduce their carbon footprint and advance their energy efficiencies – and it has never been a better time to do so . ■
For a list of the sources used in this article , please contact the editor .
Ruben Andreas Riksted www . lyras . com
Ruben Andreas Riksted is Marketing Manager at Lyras . Lyras is a Danish equipment designer and manufacturer providing a resource-efficient substitute for various existing treatment methods , including pasteurization and microfiltration , called raslysation . Established in 2017 , the company was based on the desire to prove that sustainable pasteurization is possible .
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