Consumer Goods Industries

Consumer goods are defined as products that are targeted for use by the end user. This industry is typically characterised by small production volumes, and as such typically has low carbon emissions rates per site. Here, we describe three industries, viz. the food processing industry, specifically bakeries and the canning industry, the pharmaceutical industry, and waste management, specifically wastewater treatment, with a focus on their carbon footprints and measures that could be taken to minimise their CO 2 emissions. The energy consumption per unit of consumer goods produced is typically not high, and most of their greenhouse gas emissions are imported through the feedstock and packaging. Furthermore, the temperatures applied in these processes are usually modest, allowing the possible use of heat pumps in this industry.