What Goes Around Comes Around: Day-Old French Bread Is Repurposed Into Fresh Bread In France
Waste Cost Solutions Cares About Food Waste And Its Effect on The Environment -
Learn How Bakers in France Are Recycling Unsold Loaves Of Day-Old Bread
French bread is a highly revered and regarded delicacy throughout the country of France and around the globe. Like other coveted French epicurean mainstays, including French wine and cheese, the French take the production, preparation, taste and appearance of their daily bread very seriously. After all, bread is considered the staple of any French meal in France. What’s more, French consumers expect their bread to be fresh and not include any preservatives. Day-old bread is considered to be both “unpalatable” and “unacceptable” for consumption by many in the nation.
As a result, bakeries in France normally throw out unsold loaves at the end of the day, each and every day of the year, resulting in an inordinate amount of food waste every year. It is estimated that France throws out 150 metric tons of bread each year. This is approximately nine loaves of bread per each French citizen annually. Interestingly the French government forbids its supermarkets from throwing away food of any kind and a national law was passed in 2016 regarding this. Nevertheless, this law does not pertain to French bakeries.
Repurposing and recycling the unused bread is a concern of many French citizens. In 2015, Franck Wallet, an Urban Developer invented The Crumbler, a machine that crushes old bread into breadcrumbs. The end result is a powder that is so fine, it can be used to replace flour. That recycled flour in turn can be used to make bread, cookies, muffins and other pastries.
Wallet gave up his job as an Urban Developer earlier in 2015 to create the Crumbler, since he felt that food waste is an environmental, economic and social problem facing both France and the world today. While the recycled bread crumbs do not have the white color of regular flour, the darker crumbs provide a heartier texture and taste in the bread and other food items.
A further, perhaps ironic, benefit of the Crumbler is that bread products made using its recycled flour last longer than those made with typical flour. In addition, the granulated bread crumbs from the Crumbler last for longer durations of time, when properly stored under the right conditions and temperatures.
The Crumbler sells for approximately 2,000 Euros or $2250 U.S. Dollars. Currently more than 100 bakeries across France use the Crumbler.
Old bread has also been recycled in other ways in France and in other countries too. A brewer from Chartres in France recycles baguettes to make beer. He dries the bread, mixes it with malt, and brews a blonde beer with a light toasted bread taste. In the Netherlands, leftover bread is converted into natural gas, while breweries in Italy also make beer out of leftover bread.
At Waste Cost Solutions we understand the importance of food waste management, as well as city and state recycling ordinances. We regularly monitor new city, county and state regulations and ordinances, and promptly inform our clients of these changes. We also advise them what is necessary for them to be compliant.
Waste Cost Solutions is here to help you with any waste management issue you may have, including compliance matters, waste and recycling issues or other facilities service solutions. Whether your establishment needs new exterior and interior painting, your roof needs repaired, or you’re looking to adhere to a local city ordinance, Waste Cost Solutions is here to assist you every step of the way. Contact us today at 800-509-5399 or email us
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