How to Reduce CO2 Refills and Conserve Gas Supply
Authored by Jennifer Riley:
Gas suppliers and customers, especially in the food and beverage industry, rely heavily on CO2 gas supply for their day-to-day operations. From chilling and freezing to packaging and carbonating beverages, CO2 has many use cases in the food and beverage industry. In fact, the food and beverage industry alone uses 70% of the U.S.’s CO2 supply, with 15% taken up by just the beverage industry. However, the current CO2 shortage puts pressure on businesses to seek tips and best practices for conserving their CO2 gas supply to optimize operations, reduce their need for last-minute refills, and confidently navigate the road ahead.
With the help of supply partners, customers can improve their bottom line by conserving their CO2 supply.
Understanding the State of CO2
Over the last few years, as the pandemic waned and customers returned to restaurants, the demand for CO2 steadily increased. This increase in demand proved to be short-lived, however, as beverage gas supply chain issues slowly appeared under the guise of labor shortages and rising labor costs. CO2 supply could not keep up with demand, especially during summer months when beverage consumption is typically at its highest.
Furthermore, contamination issues exasperated CO2 shortages. In the spring of 2022, Jackson Dome, a CO2 reservoir in Mississippi that supplied 1,000 tons of CO2 daily, was contaminated due to nearby gas wells. Contaminants could not be removed, halting CO2 production and increasing supply chain disruptions.
While industry experts cannot predict events such as contamination issues, they can analyze and predict the outlook of the supply chain landscape. As warmer weather continues, the CO2 supply chain is expected to worsen as demand tends to outweigh fulfillment capacity during the beverage industry’s busiest season. At the same time, the food and beverage industry is bracing for rising food costs, estimated to increase 5.8% by the end of the year.
CO2 Conservation Best Practices
For those who have felt the weight of CO2 shortages and are looking for tips on how to navigate when planning for the year ahead, consider the following tactics and best practices for conserving your CO2:
1. Monitor Your CO2 Levels
When any resource starts to run low, it is best to replenish it before it is completely depleted. The same goes for your CO2 gas supply. Ensure you are constantly checking your CO2 levels and keeping track of your gauge. If your gauge is in the Yellow Level, it is cautioning low amounts and signaling for a refill.
A recommended best practice is implementing CO2 level monitoring into your closing and opening processes, where employees can check levels at the start and end of the day. As you notice low-level status, the next step is to pick up the phone and initiate a new order.
Another easy tip for conserving your supply is to shut off your CO2 valve to ensure it is not wasted during closing hours.
2. Place Proactive CO2 Orders
People often don’t think about replacing something until it is already gone. When you have sufficient gas levels, why worry about ordering more? In today’s supply chain climate, where routes are tight and assets are limited, it is best to take a proactive approach to ordering your CO2 tank refills. For example, locations that utilize cylinder tanks should order double the amount of CO2 during busier months to ensure they have enough tanks if a truck cannot complete its delivery or a planned shutdown occurs. Mitigate potential setbacks by not delaying your orders and being aware of your current supply amount.
3. Rely on a Gas Supply Partner
As the state of the supply chain moves forward with uncertainty, find a partner you can trust that will help you navigate the ever-changing landscape. Partners are often up to date with industry trends, can analyze the market, and determine the best next steps to optimize your operations. Consider sourcing a partner that understands your specific CO2 needs and can tailor their services to ensure you are conserving your supply and ordering the appropriate amounts for your business.
How EspriGas Can Help Conserve Your CO2 Gas Supply
Our team at EspriGas understands the many challenges and unknowns customers in the food and beverage industry face when conserving their CO2 gas supply. Working with a national network of suppliers, we help our customers optimize their supply and ensure on-time deliveries. EspriGas proactively shares best practices to conserve CO2, helping our customers navigate obstacles and improve their processes.
HOW WE MAKE ORDERING SIMPLE
The EspriGas Way
Fulfilling your beverage gas needs should be simple and easy. Our streamlined ordering process will help you get the right amount of gas, on-time with minimal effort.
