Sustainability in operations: water management in mozzarella production

In today's world, where sustainability and the conscious use of resources are becoming ever more important, companies are increasingly focusing on education and awareness-raising among their employees. One example of this was a recent workshop held at Swiss Premium AG on sustainable development with a focus on water consumption in mozzarella production - a process that is traditionally considered water-intensive. Led by Martin Räber and Manuel Schneeberger, this workshop aimed to promote the sustainable use of resources and energy in the production and cleaning processes.

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A forward-looking workshop

The aim of the workshop was to raise employee awareness and identify potential for improvement. Sixteen production employees contributed their experiences and perspectives, with management only being involved in the final phase of the workshop. This methodological decision reflects the core idea of Eartheffect's bottom-up approach: solutions that are developed collectively and based on the direct experience of employees are characterized by greater acceptance and practical relevance, as no one knows the daily processes better than those who work directly with them. This participatory approach also has a positive effect on employee motivation and makes them feel valued. 

The workshop, which lasted around three hours, was structured as follows:

• Identifying topics and raising awareness: First, sustainability challenges were playfully highlighted at various levels in a quiz to raise awareness of their urgency.
• Development of measures: Subsequently, concrete measures were developed in group work to make the production process more sustainable, with a particular focus on water-saving measures and process optimization. The guiding principle: solutions are found together in an open dialog.

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Steps towards more sustainability in the company

Together with the employees of Swiss Premium AG, a comprehensive catalog of measures and a code of conduct were developed to guide the company towards a more environmentally conscious day-to-day operation. Specific improvements such as precise dosage specifications for cleaning agents and adjusted rinsing times to reduce water consumption mark important steps towards a more efficient use of resources.

A key moment of the workshop was the high level of commitment of the participants, who shone not only through their interest in sustainability, but also through their humor and personal experiences. Their commitment and willingness to engage in the development of practical solutions were crucial to the success of the workshop.

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Conclusion

The workshop showed that actively involving employees in the process of finding solutions not only leads to practicable, but also to creative and sustainable solutions. The lively exchange and goal-oriented discussions made the workshop a complete success. In the survey, all employees stated that they had resolved to implement the measures and would recommend the workshop to others without reservation - they also benefited on a personal level from a positive experience and new insights.