Proposal to reduce waste in tara gum production through a quality system, standardized work, and circular economy

Urpay L.; Valdez E.; MacAssi I.; Alvarez J.C.; Yildiz O. · AIP Conference Proceedings (2026) · DOI: 10.1063/5.0309930

Resumen

Tara gum is a vital resource for Peruvian agriculture, yet it faces significant challenges due to substantial waste during production. This study focused on a particular company in the tara gum sector, which recorded a waste of average 8.64% over the amount of seeds (87.2 tons) equal to $61 336 (3.90% of total revenue), surpassing the industry average (4%). An analysis revealed that 4.18% of this waste ($20 193), results from discarding raw materials that do not meet specifications during the seed classification and flake selection processes. Additionally, 2.95% of the waste ($23 2150) are from product contamination during temporary storage and transportation, which occurs after the sorting stages. Recognizing Tara gum's critical role in the Peruvian economy, there is an urgent need to reduce waste rates. Based on the literature review, to address this issue, a comprehensive solution is proposed that includes enhancing working conditions, improving raw material quality, optimizing storage processes, and exploring reuse alternatives through a circular economy approach. The ultimate objective is to dramatically lower waste levels, thereby bolstering the sustainability of the Peruvian Tara gum industry and maximizing the global value of this crucial resource.

Instituciones: Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos; Universidad Peruana de Ciencias Aplicadas