SUPPLY CHAIN SUPPLY INNOVATION CHAIN DELIVERING VALUE RED MEAT JOINS THE WAR ON WASTE Plastic-free meat trays Sustainable solutions and technologies which With many producers already extend shelf life are just implementing sustainable practices two of the ways the red meat to reduce GHG emissions as part industry is helping to reduce of the red meat industry’s target to food wastage. be carbon neutral by 2030 (CN30), Michael said it’s an approach that With an estimated one-third* of needs to be adopted throughout all food produced globally thrownthe food value chain. away every year across the valueAnd the good news is, producers chain, MLA has stepped up to and red meat brand owners are set the challenge to revolutionise redto be winners. meat packaging. Here, MLA Group Manager – “Many of the food waste Science and Innovation, Michael reduction solutions Lee, explains why these innovationscan actually create matter to the red meat industry, from producer to consumer. higher demand for red “Food wastage is a bigger problem meat and increase the than most of us think because profitability of the value when we throw out food, we’re chain by tapping into our also wasting the water, fuel and resources it took to get sustainability credentials. that produce from farm to fork,” Michael said. “Sustainable red meat packaging innovations reward the practices “Fast-forward to 2050, when there’llproducers are already implementing be approximately nine billion to reduce GHG emissions.” people in the world who need to be fed, and it’s clear we can’tMichael said new food packaging afford to waste one-third of allshouldn’t just increase the food produced. industry’s ‘waste accountability’ but also needs to recognise how “It’s also important to mention theconsumers will eat in the future and methane released by decomposing how food distributors will trade. food waste is one of the most potent greenhouse gases (GHG) For example, ‘plastic credits’ – similar responsible for climate change.”to carbon credits – could create MLA’s projects are stemming value for the red meat industry. food wastage by addressing “Choosing sustainable packaging three questions: could reduce your carbon footprint, • Can plastic in packaging be but plastic credits might one day replaced by other materials? become a new revenue model for how brand owners select their • If plastic has to be used, can itpackaging materials,” Michael said. be minimised? • How can red meat shelf life be extended to prevent spoiling? Continued overleaf 37