Food waste, what is it – really? For many people, it’s just uneaten meals, and they don’t think much about it after scraping it from the plate to the trash bin. However, such waste drains a lot of money. Around $218 billion dollars are lost due to food waste in the US.
Also, due to health and sanitation regulations enacted by the federal or state governments, hotels and restaurants dispose of foodstuff that are not consumed within a certain period, usually a number of hours, even though they’re still perfectly consumable.
Food waste causes unnecessary strain on the environment: it adds wastes to water supplies, farmlands, cattle, and other resources. Spoiled food which is infested with bacteria can become toxic. If it seeps through potable groundwater aquifers, it could initiate a health problem in the municipality.
It’s therefore important to diminish food wastage. Even a small percentage can make a huge difference.
Mohamed Karam
Senior Business Development Manager, Middle East & Africa, InSinkErator
Tell us very briefly about your company.
InSinkErator was founded in Racine, Wisconsin by John W. Hammes, who is credited for inventing the ‘in-sink’ food waste disposal system in 1927. The company was later acquired in 1968 by Emerson (NYSE:EMR), a global leader in bringing technology and engineering together to provide innovative solutions for customers in industrial, commercial, and consumer markets around the world. Now InSinkErator, a business unit of Emerson Electric Co., it’s the world’s largest manufacturer of food waste disposers for both household and commercial applications and the global market leader with around 80% market share.
What’s the most unique feature of your products?
InSinkErator has been delivering practical, convenient, environmentally friendly solutions which are quiet, reliable and luxurious. It’s also committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and minimising the transportation of food waste to landfills. This mighty kitchen food waste fighter turns the phrase “down the drain” on its head and potentially offers significant sustainability cred.
Emerson’s InSinkErator garbage disposals can efficiently break down even the toughest foods—corn cobs and banana peels—into tiny pieces. From here, the food waste is sent via your home’s wastewater plumbing to treatment facilities equipped to handle the small particles. At capable treatment plants, that food waste is even repurposed as energy. The evolutionary technology comes in different grinding capacities and compact designs to ensure perfect and quiet waste disposal across all applications.
What are the latest trends in the market?
The current pandemic changed our daily life and our priorities, as hygiene and public health became our main concern. Today’s consumers have demonstrated a new-found wisdom when it comes to dining out—reading up on reviews and articles on different restaurants before setting foot.
When reading about a new restaurant, one does not only look at what others say about the food per se, but is actually more interested in the restaurant as a whole; from the service rendered by the staff, the ambience of the facility, and the food offerings to how quickly the order was delivered and yes, the cleanness of the different facilities of the restaurant, particularly its kitchen. Also, consumers have now placed an increasing interest on sustainability and the environmental responsibility of the hotel or restaurant.
How have you evolved over the past few years?
The rich history of InSinkErator positions our company well for future innovations. Meanwhile, we’re always looking for new opportunities to grow and develop. In 2010, InSinkErator opened its office in Dubai to leverage its world-class environmentally compliant line of products for discerning consumers in the region.
The Middle East is one of the fastest growing environmental technology markets, where consumers have become more aware of the need to patronise green and eco-friendly products. With the development of infrastructure advances in these markets, governments are increasingly looking at ways to reduce carbon emissions and better manage the volume of food waste, where InSinkErator products and solutions can play a big role to support these trends.
What’s in the pipeline for your company?
Our educational programmes aim to increase sustainable awareness in the foodservice and hospitality sectors, while continuing to listen to our customers to create and develop new products and solutions to meet their needs and requirements in this challenging, changing environment.
