The EPA has appointed Clean Technology Centre (CTC) at Munster Technological University, working with Flannery Nagel Ltd, to carry out a study to look at food waste measurement in the dairy processing and manufacturing sector.

Study Objective: 
The aim of this work is to continue the development of sector-specific food waste measurement methods for use by food and drink manufacturers across the main production sectors in Ireland (in this case a select number of companies in the dairy processing sector). 

The EPA has previously developed standardised food waste measurement methodologies for other sectors (e.g. seafood, bakery, brewing & distilling) in line with international standards. Every effort has been made to make these as streamlined and straightforward as possible. To ensure that the national methodology for the dairy sector is fit for purpose, and reflects the needs of Irish businesses, CTC/Flannery Nagel would like to trial the application of the methodology with dairy processors and get their feedback on the process. Dairy processors are likely to be already tracking food waste amounts and this initiative will examine this existing data and see how it fits into the food waste measurement methodology.

Participation 
Company involvement would take the form of an initial phone call/online discussion on current on-site food waste management and measurement practices with possible subsequent site visit to trial the food waste measurement tool. CTC/Flannery Nagel will complete a short food waste report for your company.

In terms of data confidentiality, this work aims to test out the methodology using real data from Irish food businesses. The data will not be published, nor will any of the names of the businesses involved. This process is about developing a refined methodology and food waste recording template that can be used to support future national food waste reporting.

Benefits
• Utilisation of EPA Food Waste Protocol tool and support quantifying food waste.
• Support internal waste targets, Irish National targets and the UN Sustainable Development goals. 
• Identify opportunities to reduce food waste and associated costs from an independent specialist.
• Feed into an Industry best practice guidance document.
• Identify new waste reduction measures for your internal strategy/action plan e.g. Origin Green Plan. 
• Demonstrate leadership in your sector.
• Going beyond compliance.

If you wish to participate, please contact Colman McCarthy at Clean Technology Centre.
Email: colman.mccarthy@ctc-cork.ie