US Offers Star Ratings for Food Processors

Food processors and packaging companies in the US can now gain an energy star from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for energy efficiency.

Flat and container glass manufacturing plants and juice and frozen fried potato processing plants are the first in the industries to receive the star allocations.

The US says that it hopes to reduce carbon emissions in these sectors by awarding companies for being more green.

The food processing sector there spends nearly $7bn a year on energy, while the glass industry spends more than $2bn.

It says that energy efficiency improvements in these areas could save almost $900m a year in energy costs and more than 150 trillion btu.

Reductions could also lead to a cut in global greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to the use by more than 1 million homes each year.