Sivutuotteeksi

Sivutuotteeksi is a Finnish term that translates to "by-product" in English. It refers to a secondary product generated during the production of a primary product. This secondary product is not the main objective of the manufacturing process but arises as a consequence of it.

By-products can arise in various industries. In agriculture, for example, animal waste can be a by-product that is processed into fertilizer. In the food industry, the whey left over from cheese production is a by-product that can be used to make other food products or ingredients. The timber industry generates sawdust and wood chips as by-products, which can be used for animal bedding, fuel, or in the manufacturing of particleboard.

The economic significance of a by-product can vary. Some by-products have little value and may even incur disposal costs. However, many by-products can be valuable resources, contributing to the overall profitability of a manufacturing process. Efficient utilization of by-products can reduce waste, conserve resources, and create new revenue streams. This process is often referred to as valorization or upcycling, where a low-value by-product is transformed into a higher-value product.

The classification of a material as a by-product rather than waste depends on whether it has potential commercial value and can be recovered and reused without fundamentally altering the primary production process. Regulatory definitions also play a role in distinguishing by-products from waste materials.