Manufacturing, use phase or final disposal: where to focus the efforts to reduce the environmental impact of a food machine?

The end of life of equipment is gaining interest among food companies who want to lower their environmental impacts. However, by considering their life cycle, is it the most impactful phase? To answer the question, a Life Cycle Assessment was carried out by comparing the manufacturing, use and final disposal of a food equipment. Primary data (materials, operations and cleaning consumption) were collected; the end of life was modelled considering European disposal. Eight midpoint indicators were adopted: results demonstrate that the end of life, as well as the raw materials extraction and production, contribute little on many categories. The main impact (95%) is due to the use phase, primarily in charge of electricity (responsible for 40-70% of eutrophication, acidification, and global warming potentials). Therefore, food producers aimed at improving their facilities should, firstly, focus on consumption optimization (e.g. using renewable electric energy) and, only later, on the equipment’s final management.