Innovation in a food SME to match the UN2030 sustainable development goals

Abstract

Sustainable development goals may be reached with some bold country policies but also optimizing any manufacturing process. Awareness of the large amount of waste produced along the dairy supply chain, for instance, raised great concern: continuous questions are raised about the consequences that will affect environmental sustainability, the continuous waste of resources and, above all, the future health of the entire ecosystem. In fact, dairy wastewater cannot be disposed of as simple wastewater (due to the high organic load and the nutrients it contains); therefore, adequate disposal processes and techniques are requested. The latter have a huge impact on company production costs.In this regard, coherently with some goals of Agenda2030, the study focuses on the search for a technological solution that could guarantee a reduction in the volume of whey, in order to reduce the number of monthly trips dedicated to disposal and the consequent environmental impact. The optimal selection could improve from one side corporate finances but, at the same time, could result in a green technological solution allowing a more harmonious production within the Pollino National Park in which the farm is located.