21 Jan 2026

7 ways to turn sustainability into a competitive advantage

Reduce your environmental footprint while remaining profitable

Sustainability in poultry processing is no longer a buzzword; it has become an essential value in today’s operations. Increasing resource costs, tighter regulations, and growing expectations from retailers and consumers are changing how poultry is processed worldwide. The challenge for processors is clear: how to grow, remain profitable, and reduce environmental impact at the same time.

JBT Marel approaches sustainability not as a single solution or technology, but as a system-wide mindset. Across water management, energy use, equipment lifecycle, and carcass balance, processors are proving that sustainable choices can also be smart business decisions.

1. ATLAS - hygiene and resource efficiency go hand in hand

Improving hygiene has traditionally meant using more water and chemicals. Today, that is no longer the case. At French processor Rémi Ramon, for example, the ATLAS live bird handling system shows that an efficient process using easy-to-clean, destackable SmartStacks can improve hygiene and reduce resource consumption.. “We’ve seen major improvements in hygiene, reduced water consumption and greater employee satisfaction,” says CEO François Guillet. “We use less water and fewer chemicals.”
The efficiency improvements go even beyond the factory walls, thanks to the ingenious concept of the SmartStacks: “Moreover, we can now transport more chickens per truck, lowering our carbon footprint.” This proves that sustainability can be achieved through better control, without compromising performance.

2. AeroScalder - water scarcity demands smarter process design

In many regions around the world, water availability is one of the defining constraints on future growth. Technologies that reduce consumption without sacrificing performance are becoming essential, such as JBT Marel’s AeroScalder. At Delmon Poultry in Bahrain, water efficiency is a strategic priority. Aatef Alsaleh, Chief Operating Officer says, “With the AeroScalder, our water savings align with our commitment to environmentally friendly practices and allow us to be one of the leaders in the country’s water saving plan.”
AeroScalder shows how sustainability can be part of everyday processing. “The AeroScalder offers superior temperature control, uses less water and energy, and ensures a hygienic process.”

3. Sustainability also means a sustained use of existing systems

Innovation does not always mean replacement. In many cases, extending the life of existing equipment is the most sustainable choice. Dennis Loo, Plant Manager with CCK in Malaysia, summed up this approach clearly when upgrading plucking equipment: “I like it when a technological upgrade doesn’t necessarily require the purchase of a totally new machine. This is a very sustainable approach.” Reducing material waste, avoiding unnecessary investments, and improving performance at the same time means more sustainable processing.

4. Responsible wastewater management

As poultry operations grow, effective water treatment and reuse become critical. Sustainable growth relies on systems that care about local resources while enabling expansion. Addoha Poultry in Saudi Arabia clearly recognizes this priority.
“Over time, Addoha Poultry has shifted its focus towards expanding its operations with sustainability at the forefront.” A large-scale wastewater treatment system, installed by JBT Marel, plays a key role in enabling that strategy, supporting compliance, reuse, and long-term water security. A total capacity of 5.4 million liters per day can be treated and upgraded to high-quality irrigation water. Easing irrigation is vital in Saudi Arabia, a country rich in deserts and poor in water, and highlights another contribution of Addoha Poultry to the sustainability goals.

5. Carcass balance – maximum utilization is key to a sustainable process

True sustainability means maximizing value from every part of the bird. Processing solutions that focus on other parts than the most popular breast meat play a crucial role in achieving this balance.
Deboned thigh meat, for example, is an underleveraged part. When sold bone-in or as frozen bulk product, its true market potential often goes unrealized, making the process less sustainable. In-line thigh deboning with JBT Marel’s Thigh Fillet System changes this dynamic by transforming dark meat into a premium boneless product with strong demand in retail, foodservice, and further-processing segments. “Especially with high-value concept chicken, such as slow-growing, country, native, local, or label breeds, it is an even greater waste to focus only on the breast fillets and leave other valuable parts underutilized, such as legs, wings, and other edible portions. In these cases, carcass balance becomes even more important, contributing significantly to sustainable processing while increasing the profitability of the in-line thigh deboning line.”

The same principle applies to by-products. The better utilization of necks and feet (with JBT Marel’s Feet Processing System) also adds to more sustainable processing of the entire chicken. Waste reduction and profitability are not opposing goals, they can reinforce each other.

6. Energy and water efficiency in poultry chilling

Chilling remains one of the most energy-intensive steps in poultry processing that requires either a lot of water or a lot of energy. Reducing energy and water use without compromising food safety requires careful system design. JBT Marel’s approach to air chilling, with DownFlow Plus or Shock Maturation chilling systems, focuses on optimizing footprint and airflow. “JBT Marel will always come up with an ideal footprint, ensuring that product is chilled as cost-effectively and sustainably as possible.” Sustainability at this level is achieved not through shortcuts, but through engineering discipline.

7. A shared responsibility for the future of poultry processing

Sustainability is most powerful when it is shared across partners. This is reflected in long-term collaborations across the industry. Simon Camilleri, CEO of Baiada, who is building a phenomenal greenfield in Oakburn, Australia, states, “JBT Marel and Baiada both share a long and strong relationship spanning over 30 years and are committed to a full inline processing system in the most sustainable way.”
For poultry processors, sustainability is no longer just about reducing impact, it is about building resilient, future-ready operations. By combining efficiency, innovation, and responsibility, sustainable processing becomes a competitive advantage rather than a constraint.

At JBT Marel, this belief in sustainability continues to drive how poultry processing solutions are designed, delivered, and continuously improved, together with customers around the world.

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