Kraft Foods plant in Bahrain cuts energy consumption by 25 percent

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Fifteen months after its launch, Kraft Foods’ manufacturing plant in Bahrain is making substantial headway towards its sustainability goals. The plant has achieved reductions (per ton) of 25% in energy consumption, 50% in water consumption and 16% in waste from 2008. In 2009 the plant has targeted a further 5% reduction based on its 2008 average. 

Kraft Foods Bahrain WLL announced these results during an event on World Environment Day, attended by 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. 

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. Our employees are helping us deliver on our sustainability commitments by discovering unique possibilities for positive change and spearheading key projects that are changing the way we operate, whilst protecting our business continuity”, said Andrew Trevis, Plant Director, Kraft Foods Bahrain, WLL.  

“What makes our sustainability projects unique is that they are being led by recently hired graduates, many of whom are local Bahraini nationals committed to making a positive impact in their local community. We are proud to recognize that their efforts to reduce environmental footprint is being realized”, added Trevis.

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 2008, as part of the sanitation project general solid waste was reduced by 246%, and recycled waste from water and materials increased by 32% in the year. Water consumption was reduced up to 18 million liters per year and chemical consumption up to 11.5 tons liters per year. In 2009, the project aims to achieve a 20% reduction of general waste disposal, 20% increase in recycled waste and 25% reduction in liquid waste.

On the procurement front, efforts to reduce the amount of material going out into the environment have led to a conscious adherence to the 3R’s rule to Reduce, Reuse and Recycle, thus ensuring that all packaging categories such as glass, paper, tin, metal caps and wooden material are completely recyclable.

The plant’s department of safety, security and environment ensures that all cleaning supplies used in the plant are in compliance with the regulations by the Ministry of Environmental Affairs, and further efforts are under way to switch some of the plant’s processes from diesel to natural gas by August 2009 as a target. Other mid term objectives include use of recycled waste water for irrigation and the installation of a power factor to reduce power consumption.

A paperless office project, which commenced in April 2009, is expected to result in a 30% reduction in paper purchase, 40% increase in use of recycled paper and a 30% reduction in generated paper waste, which not only reduces environmental footprint but results in financial cost savings related to purchasing, printing and disposal.

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. 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. We are very pleased to have the encouragement and support of the Ministry of Environmental Affairs and the Bahrain International Investment Park as we continue our sustainability efforts and environmental awareness efforts in the Kingdom”, added Trevis.