Environmental Initiatives II

Question 1

Why does every meal have an environmental impact?

Answer 1

Every meal has an environmental impact at each stage in the agri-food system because something is removed or added to the environment

Question 2

Why is it hard for companies to source environmentally friendly products?

Answer 2

Since we source products from a supply chain that is global and complex, Agricultural producers in different areas of the world may not have the same regulations for agriculture and do not necessarily use the “best management practices” that are adopted in Canada to protect soil, water and wildlife

Question 3

What are the negative impacts of cocoa, coffee and cotton farming in developing countries?

Answer 3

Can contribute to:

• Deforestation
• soil degradation
• reduction of water quality
• loss of habitat for wildlife
• Reduces species diversity

Question 4

What is the company approaches as an initiative for the environment?

Answer 4

Producers and companies can support by creating guiding principles and best practices they train employees to follow
-can set company wide targets

Question 5

What are eco labels?

Answer 5

Ecolabels and certification systems can be used to define standards of production

Question 6

Why do farmers become certified?

Answer 6

for their land in production that meets the requirements of higher standards. An independent certification company conducts an audit each year to renew the certification.

Question 7

Why aren eco labels not effective?

Answer 7

because they do not define the value of the environmental initiativ

Question 8

What are the benefits to businesses that support environmental initiatives?

Answer 8

Increased tree cover
Conserved soil quality
Reduced chemical use
Protection of wildlife

Question 9

What is the largest manufacturing industry in Canada?

Answer 9

The processing industry

-Manufacturing facilities can influence the environment, so any improvements can have valuable outcomes.

Question 10

What are the issues with energy and water consumption in the processing industry?

Answer 10

Accounts fo 9% of energy expenditure in canada
-used to cook, heat, pack, store, handle, sterilize, freeze etc

Water is used for washing food and sanitizing facility
-creates water waste

Question 11

What are initiatives for the efficiency and innovative engineering for processing?

Answer 11

Improvements in energy efficiency can significantly reduce the use of resources and the cost of production.

Question 12

What are the benefits to improving efficiency during processing?

Answer 12

Reduced demand for water and water treatment

Reduced demand for energy

Question 13

Why is packaging used?

Answer 13

Protect from contamination
Maintine food quality
Advertise product

Question 14

What are the potential issues for packaging pollution?

Answer 14

When a package is no longer useful it is discarded to environment where it may cause pollution
-most accumulates in landfill

The impact on the environment depends on the type of material used for the package

Question 15

What are the initiatives to deal with packaging?

Answer 15

Reducing material use (by weight)

Increasing the proportion of recycled, recyclable and compostable materials

Question 16

How is sustainable packaging developed?

Answer 16

by considering the life cycle of a package from the acquisition of the raw materials to its manufacture and disposal

Question 17

What re the benefits of changing the type and quantity of packaging?

Answer 17

Reduction in the amount of resources that go into packaging

Diversion of packaging from disposal to reuse, recycling or composting

Lower energy and water use to create a smaller package

Fewer trucks on the road to transport the same quantity of food product

Question 18

What are the issues with climate change and air quality in transportation?

Answer 18

Traffic emits greenhouse gases, which contribute to climate change

Transportation also contributes air pollutants, causing smog and poor air quality

Out-of-date technology is inefficient because it has higher emissions than new technology.

Drivers who are uninformed about energy efficiency may idle or take long routes that waste energy

Larger than necessary package sizes require more trucks

Question 19

What are the initiatives to reducing pollution in transportation?

Answer 19

New tech can improve efficiency by replacing old tech

Good Practices: Food distributors plan to efficiently deliver food to where it is needed, which saves money.

• include redesigning the product package size to fit more in each shipment, and reducing the total number of trips
• driver also optimizes the route

Question 20

What are the benefits to improving tech?

Answer 20

Reducing fuel consumption

Reducing emissions of greenhouse gases and air pollutants

Question 21

What are the issues with energy use in retail?

Answer 21

Supermarkets are some of the greatest energy users of all commercial buildings
-by running appliances for heating and refrigeration. may emit GHG

Food waste occurs when food is discarded even though it was meant for human consumption
-a result of management decisions during ready-made food production and product ordering

Question 22

What re the initiatives to reduce energy use and food waste in retail?

Answer 22

Energy:
-benchmarking (continually reviewing energy use

Reducing Food waste:
-food waste initiatives (imperfect fruits, food banks)

Question 23

What is Corporate social responsibility?

Answer 23

A set of voluntary principles and practices that define how a company approaches economic, social and environmental sustainability

Question 24

When do company principles occur?

Answer 24

The principles guide the culture that employees practice and the decision-making that occurs during company operations
-ensures that there is a cohesive set of company values even though companies despite the number of people

Question 25

What benefits do companies see that practice corporate social reasonability?

Answer 25

Greater risk management prevents disastrous outcomes

Improved reputation leads to consumer trust

Gains in production due to operational efficiency

Question 26

What pieces do we have to coordinate environmental protection?

Answer 26

Industry: can create environmental issues while performing their operations to supply food, fibre and fuel to consumers

Consumer: determine the type and quantity of foods that are produced by industry because of their purchasing decisions

Government: plays the role of regulating and incentivizing cooperation in the agri-food system