The dairy processing sector is currently facing a myriad of challenges, with the foremost being the imperative to lessen its environmental impact while simultaneously meeting the escalating demand for its commodities. In response to these challenges, extensive efforts are being made to develop and integrate green technologies into dairy processing. The principal objective of these innovations is to enhance the sector’s sustainability and reduce both resource consumption and carbon emissions.
One such innovative technology is raslysation, a non-thermal pasteurization alternative pioneered by Lyras, a Denmark-based company. This method requires minimal resources in comparison to conventional pasteurization or microfiltration techniques, resulting in a substantial reduction of 60-80% in water usage and 60-90% in energy consumption. The application of raslysation has exhibited promising outcomes in processes involving whey, cheese, milk, yogurt, and UHT milk, leading to enhanced yield and preservation of bioactivity. By utilizing UV light instead of heat to deactivate microorganisms in liquids, raslysation not only conserves energy and water but also safeguards the bioactivity of nutrients and proteins, thereby ensuring an elevated standard of product quality.
Another industry leader in sustainable dairy processing is Tetra Pak, which is striving to curtail its GHG emissions from dairy ambient processing equipment by 50% by the year 2030. The company’s primary focus is on developing energy-efficient processing equipment via its UHT 2.0 Heating Portfolio, incorporating OneStep technology. This integration of essential milk processing steps into a single, efficient process has resulted in a significant reduction in processing time and energy consumption. Additionally, Tetra Pak is working towards providing scalable solar thermal supply for its UHT processing line, which has the potential to decrease fossil fuel usage by up to 40%.
Moreover, GEA, a prominent global engineering company, has made considerable advancements in sustainable dairy processing with its innovative dairy separators. The GEA ecoclear i bacteria removal separator, designed for small- to medium-sized dairies, has markedly reduced energy consumption through its direct drive system, eliminating the necessity for additional components that are susceptible to wear and tear. Meanwhile, GEA’s range of MSI skimming separators, featuring GEA EngySpeed, has attained the same clarification area at lower speeds, leading to energy savings of up to 40%.
The initiatives and innovations in sustainable dairy processing underscore the industry’s dedication to addressing environmental concerns and ensuring long-term viability. As the demand for dairy products continues to escalate, these endeavours towards sustainability, efficiency, and innovation will play an indispensable role in shaping the future of the dairy processing sector. Through the adoption of green technologies and the reduction of resource consumption, the industry has the capacity to pave the way for a more sustainable and environmentally responsible future.