There’s no way around it: with the current state of the planet, everyone has to do their bit, Patates Dolbec included! How are we contributing, you ask? With circular economy! This practice has become a bona fide philosophy within the company. For Patates Dolbec, the old saying “Nothing is created, nothing is lost, everything changes” takes on its full meaning.
What Is Circular Economy?
Unfamiliar with the term? We’ll explain! A circular economy is an environmental approach that seeks to minimize waste and maximize the reuse of resources by transforming waste into raw materials. The process aims to find added value in the residues created by a company. It’s a movement that’s gaining ground in many industries, and one that Patates Dolbec is proud to be a part of.
Patates Dolbec and Circular Economy
As one of the largest producers in Eastern Canada, we harvest over 40,000 tonnes of potatoes from our fields every year. As you may have guessed, not all of them can make their way to your kitchen.
That’s because some potatoes, during the harvesting process, are mechanically injured, bruised or damaged. Others simply don’t meet government standards and thus can’t be sold as fresh produce. No matter! If they’re not presentable enough for supermarket shelves, we’ve got a few other things in store for them.
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Fries and Other Processed Products
The first step is to send some of the declassified potatoes to other processing companies. These potatoes are then transformed into French fries, peeled potatoes, cubes, and many other products. A delicious way to avoid unnecessary waste.
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Potato Flour
Another portion of the potatoes, the slightly damaged ones, are then sent to a specialized plant for processing into potato flour, a gluten-free option that is becoming increasingly popular with consumers. Once again, this step allows the downgraded potatoes to be fully exploited.
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Cattle Farmers
The most damaged potatoes, which are unsuitable for human consumption, find their way to cattle farmers, contributing to feed the livestock. Nothing is lost!
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Vodka
And what do we do with the potatoes that don’t meet the requirements of the fresh food market due to their shape or appearance? They head for our distillery, Ubald, which is built right in the heart of our fields. They form the basis of our fine, potato-based vodka. Each bottle gives a second life to 14 pounds of declassified potatoes!
The story could have ended right here, but there’s more! As much as possible, we’re determined to reuse every residue we create.
Recovery of Draff
Our vodka’s distillation process generates a protein-rich byproduct called spent grain, or draff. We recover this draff and send it to cattle producers, who use it as feed for their livestock. And that’s not all! We also recover the liquid part of the draff and use it as fertilizer for our land, contributing to soil health and agricultural sustainability.
Delicious potatoes grow once again in these fields, and the cycle begins anew. As you can see, we can’t be any more circular than with our rigorously honed process!
Reducing Waste and Reusing Resources
A circular economy also means implementing measures to reduce environmental impact. That’s why, at Patates Dolbec, we have eliminated the use of non-recyclable polystyrene foam and replaced it with recyclable and compostable cardboard.
By adopting a circular economy as a guiding principle for its activities, Patates Dolbec demonstrates how a company can not only reduce its environmental impact, but also create value from what would otherwise have been considered waste.
From producing fine vodka to reusing packaging, we hope to be an inspiring example of how the circular economy can be put into practice in the food industry.
