Food waste reduction in Germany
Minimizing food waste in our manufacturing processes is a major priority. Our continuous improvement team in Germany was recognized for combining technical enhancements with problem awareness training for employees.
In our jam production facility, we repeatedly encountered high rejection rates due to incorrectly sealed jars. A cross-functional project team revealed that the speed of the conveyor belt transporting the jars from the filling machine to the sealer was not synchronized with the speed of the filling machine. As a result, the jars entered the sealer at uneven intervals, affecting the sealing process.
Through various process optimizations and additional employee training, the problem was resolved, and the rejection rate was reduced by 75%. This corresponds to an absolute reduction of defective goods by 49 tons of jam per year. The project is a great example of how we implement our supply chain mission statement in practice and move closer to our goal of zero waste in production.
We are honored that our project and the resulting permanent improvements have been recognized with the Environmental Award by the Schleswig-Holsteinischen Wirtschaft Association (STGF). This award is a great tribute to the dedication and hard work of the entire project team.
