Are you working in the food and beverage industry? If so, you are most likely familiar with the fact that food waste is one contributing factor to greenhouse gases and climate change. Read on to learn why that’s the case and what simple steps your business can take to help tackle the problem. Discover how Aerapy’s innovative upper air UV disinfecting products can be your ally in reducing food waste.

Food loss refers to products not used for food preparation or consumption. An example of food loss would be unharvested crops like peaches, lettuce, tomatoes, and spinach. Research tells us that there are a range of reasons why crops remain on farms, including price volatility, labor costs, and aesthetic standards.

Food waste is a term used to describe discarded or recycled food. Examples would range from plate waste to spoiled food. In a restaurant, any unfinished meal discarded into the garbage would be considered plate waste. Also, if any of the ingredients that you order for your restaurant start rotting before you can use them, this would also be considered food waste. We understand that this is an unfortunate reality of our daily lives, and we are here to become your allies in addressing this major problem.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, when food products are disposed of in municipal landfills, they rot and produce a natural byproduct called methane. Methane is a gas known to contribute more significantly to the greenhouse effect than CO2, leading to higher planet temperatures, ice cores melting, and ocean levels rising.

Research has shown that while food in landfills produces greenhouse gases, more than 85 percent of these emissions are caused by food production, transportation, processing, and distribution. A 2021 report released by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency states that over one-third of the food produced in the United States is never consumed. Reducing the amount of food wasted could help achieve substantial environmental benefits.

Businesses in the food and beverage industry can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions by adopting some innovative solutions to reduce food waste. Read on to take a closer look at how you can contribute to making a sustainable future a reality.

Preventing food waste is far more beneficial for the environment than recycling. Restaurants, cafeterias, cafés, quick-serve restaurants (QSRs), pubs, delis, food manufacturing operations, catering businesses, and food transportation services could provide the most substantial emissions benefits if they could significantly reduce their food waste. Aerapy is here to help you achieve your sustainability goals with environmentally-friendly and affordable GUV technology that is backed by studies.

Commercially-used ultraviolet lamps help in the following processes: tenderizing meat, curing and wrapping cheeses, preventing mold on baked products, and air purification. If you are a food manufacturing company, GUV technology can assist you in enhancing the sustainability of your production processes.

If you are a business owner who offers transportation services for businesses in the food and beverage industry, Aerapy’s patented DuoGuard can help guard your transport vehicles against pathogens. Unfortunately, while refrigeration helps combat food waste by slowing the rate of food spoilage, it doesn’t kill harmful bacteria like E. coli, salmonella, or listeria. Aerapy can help you keep your produce safe! During transport, DuoGuard, with its integrated fan, creates powerful airflow for air disinfection, mitigating aerosolized bacteria and mold. When the transportation unit is unoccupied, the UV device can quickly sanitize surfaces inside the vehicle with the push of a button.

Do you own a restaurant, a deli, or a supermarket? Aerapy’s GUV technology can help you prolong the shelf-life of your produce in the following way. To begin with, sunlight has the ability to kill bacteria and mold, and germicidal ultraviolet (GUV) is a major contributing factor to this property. We know that fruits and vegetables are some of the most perishable products on the market.

Research shows that the right doses of UV applied indoors can help extend the shelf life of various products, including fruits and vegetables such as lettuce and blueberries, as well as fresh and dried fish, deli meats, and dairy products. Additionally, GUV is effective against bacteria that affect fish and seafood and lead to food waste. Extending the shelf life of products then helps reduce food waste, as it translates into more time for supermarkets to sell the products and for restaurants to use up their ingredients.

Not only does GUV technology help combat food waste, but it also improves food security. Food security is a term used to describe the access of families and individuals to food items that are essential for leading an active and healthy lifestyle. Research shows that food insecurity, a.k.a. lack of access to nutrition, is experienced by more than 13.5 million American households. One of the major factors contributing to this problem is food spoilage.

“Food deserts” in the U.S. are disadvantaged communities that do not have access to large chain grocery stores, which means they are at a higher risk of receiving spoiled food due to the time it takes to deliver it to local stores. UV-C light emitted by GUV technology prevents bacteria, viruses, and other harmful microorganisms from reproducing by changing their cellular DNA.

Aerapy’s technology strives to contribute to building a more sustainable future for all where everyone has access to the nutritious food they need to stay healthy.

At Aerapy, we are proud allies of the food and beverage industry, offering a variety of powerful upper-air UV solutions. Our devices help reduce highly resistant bacteria, molds, fungi, allergens, and other pollutants, as well as extend the shelf life of your produce, limiting food waste. Let’s take care of our environment together. Contact us today if you have any questions about how UV technology can help your business!

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PHOTO CREDITS:
Landfill photo by vianet ramos on Unsplash
Food waste photo by Elevate on Unsplash