Maintaining profitability & growth in an increasingly challenging environment

The food industry is facing challenges on a number of fronts. Even without the far-reaching and significant impacts of COVID-19, operational conditions and supply chains are subjected to continual change and increasing uncertainty.

The climate is getting hotter and drier and access to essential resources like water and energy are more frequently disrupted and less secure. The regulatory environment has also undergone significant change, water allocation and discharge quality are in the spotlight, and there is increasing pressure to meet greenhouse gas emissions targets.

As we adapt as a society to higher temperatures and reduced rainfall, food producers and manufactures can face unique challenges. Drought can impact on water supply and energy generation and increased storm activity can play havoc with sensitive supply chains. It is important to find ways of maintaining profitability and growth in a changing and increasingly challenging environment. Working with expert support can help you identify the risks, opportunities and the right solutions for your business, operation or supply chain.

Understanding the risks of climate change and water scarcity can help ensure organisations can find options to help create a more resilient, sustainable future for their business. Working towards a more sustainable business model also offers opportunities to save costs and improve compliance, operational efficiency, performance and reputation.

The food industry can play a significant role in a more sustainable future by improving efficiency and increasing resilience to risks. Reducing water use and food waste are practical examples of opportunities to not only improve performance, meet targets and reduce operating costs but also to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reduce the risks of decreased water availability.

Sometimes, doing this work can identify other pathways to becoming more self-reliant, and alternative options for power, water or waste management.

Whether you are in dairy, meat, produce, seafood, processed food or beverage production there will be opportunities to become more efficient and less vulnerable. Specialists in clean manufacturing, sustainability, climate risk and water security can help identify opportunities for improvement. Having expert support helps you identify the material environmental, social and economic risks on, and impacts of, your business so you feel like you have the best information to make decisions.

A more efficient and less wasteful operation has multiple benefits including a more streamlined process, as well as reducing the cost of goods. It can also help harness the knowledge and experience of your whole team. Investing in a thorough understanding of the specific sustainability risks, impacts and opportunities that affect you increases your resilience and ability to face the challenges.

Cress Consulting are sustainability, risk and water specialists, committed to finding the right solutions to help you secure a more sustainable, secure future.If you would like help to find the right solutions to a more sustainable, secure future, please contact us here.