Applying Circular Thinking in food production

Every great idea earns its place in history by passing a test of fire: the ability to be successfully implemented.

This is true for our idea of Circular Thinking too, the philosophy that combines business and sustainability in a virtuous cycle. Is this concept applicable across all fields?

We tested it with one of the sectors that most uses Pieralisi machinery: food production and processing.

Can Circular Thinking be integrated into such diverse workflows, from tomato sauce production to meat processing? Let’s look at concrete examples.

5 Actions to Foster Sustainability in Different Processing Cycles.

1. Enhancing Raw Materials.

Extra virgin olive oil production is based on a precious raw material, olives which are valued through a process designed specifically for this purpose.

For example, our multi-phase extraction technology allows the production of  three different outputs: oil, pâté, and pomace. The pomace/kernel separator then recovers the kernels, the valuable biomass for thermal energy production.

➡️ From the EVO oil cycle, we get pâté, pomace, and biogas.

2. Supporting More Sustainable Markets.

Increasingly, people choose plant-based beverages for their nutritional benefits and greater environmental and energy sustainability. They require fewer natural resources and produce lower CO2 emissions compared to animal-derived products. That's why we are committed to producing centrifuges for soy, rice, almond, and oat-based beverages.

➡️ Dedicated machinery for more sustainable production.

3. Saving Precious Resources Like Water.

In food production, such as tomato sauce, water consumption can be significant. Our machinery can be integrated into existing processing cycles to recover wastewater and reduce the company’s water footprint.

➡️ A concrete help in reducing water footprint.

4. Valuing Production Waste.

During meat processing, our machinery isolates certain waste parts for human consumption, which are instead used for pet food production. The result includes high product quality, lower investment costs, less waste, and reduced energy consumption.

➡️ From meat processing, raw material for pet food is created.

5. Designing Long-Lasting Machinery.

The first form of sustainability is the care and preservation of what already exists. That’s why we developed the Mister CIP (Clean In Place) system, which allows separators to be cleaned without disassembly. Avoiding machine downtime is crucial for seasonal productions like olive oil campaigns. At the same time, proper and constant cleaning extends the lifespan of each machine.

➡️ Systems for longer lifespan and less machine downtime.

Being advocates of sustainability is a demanding journey that gradually turns ideas into reality. This is what Circular Thinking means to us—a continuous source of inspiration for everyday work.