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Kraft plant cuts energy consumption by 25pc

Kraft Foods’ manufacturing plant in Bahrain is making substantial headway towards its sustainability goals with a 25 per cent cut in energy consumption.

The plant, in its fifteen month operation, has achieved reductions (per ton) of 25 per cent in energy consumption, 50 per cent in water consumption and 16 per cent in waste from 2008. In 2009 the plant has targeted a further 5 per cent reduction based on its 2008 average, said a company official at a function to mark World Environment Day.

Officials from the Ministry of Environmental Affairs, Ministry of Industry and Commerce and the Bahrain International Investment Park, in addition to Kraft Foods employees and business associates took part.

The state-of-the-art manufacturing plant in Bahrain, which manufactures Kraft cheese products and Tang powdered beverages for distribution for the Middle East region operates within Kraft Food’s global sustainability strategy known as Better World. Its sustainability priorities are categorized into key focus areas that include investing in renewable energy, recycling of waste water to reduce water consumption, recycling of waste material, and use of recyclable packaging materials.

“Kraft Foods is working to build a better world for our consumers and stakeholders,' said Andrew Trevis, plant director, Kraft Foods Bahrain.

The replacement of open skips with mobile compactors, and prudent decisions in selection of cleaning supplies have yielded remarkable results for a waste segregation and disposal project lead by the Sanitation team.

In 2009, the project aims to achieve a 20 per cent reduction of general waste disposal, 20 per cent increase in recycled waste and 25 per cent reduction in liquid waste.

Paperless office

A paperless office project, which commenced in April 2009, is expected to result in a 30 per cent reduction in paper purchase, 40 per cent increase in use of recycled paper and a 30 per cent reduction in generated paper waste.

This not only reduces environmental footprint but results in financial cost savings related to purchasing, printing and disposal, Trevis pointed out.

The event culminated in a symbolic tree planting ceremony, another graduate-led project, to mark the first of over 230 trees that will be planted around the facility in an effort to create a greener environment at the Bahrain International Investment Park.

According to trevis, the trees will be watered using recycled waste water.

'As a multinational company present in over 150 countries we strive to make a positive impact in the community,' he observed.