Danisco steps up life cycle assessment work

Dr Mikkel Thrane is taking on the role of sustainability manager and life cycle assessment strategist at Danisco to drive this work forward.

Thrane will pursue a two pronged strategy assessing both the environmental profile of Danisco products and implementing changes to improve their environmental performance.

Although Thrane has only just taken on the new role, he told FoodNavigator.com that improvements are already in the pipeline as Danisco has completed environmental profiling work before his arrival.

Raw potential ​

Work with suppliers on raw material acquisition is likely to offer the biggest opportunity to cut carbon emissions.

Having done a lot of life cycle work in the food area, Thrane said: “there is a lot of low hanging fruit in the agriculture sector.”​

Sometimes that fruit can come from unexpected sources. Thrane, who obtained his PhD in life cycle assessment from Aalborg University for work on the environmental impact of sea food products, said the anti-fouling paint used on ship hulls is one of the biggest offenders in the chain.

Danisco itself is now working with Hempel to develop a sustainable anti-fouling paint that is effective when ships are stationery.

Scope of work ​

As well as working with suppliers, Danisco plans to improve processes internally so that energy consumption is reduced and more renewable energy resources are used.

In addition, the ingredients supplier will collaborate with customers on a product level to advise them on driving environmental and efficiency changes. Encouraging use of enzymes to improve yield is one example of how Danisco can perform this role.

Detailed life cycle assessment that extends from product conception to disposal or from “cradle-to-grave” will inform all this work.

Thrane will drive projects forward his using his work on life cycle assessment (LCA) at Aalborg University in and outside of the food area as well as his experience as subject editor for the Ecoinvent LCA database.