Fighting Food Waste Through Prevention & Technology

Issues Surrounding Food Waste   

Between 33-50% of all food produced globally is wasted –an approximation of over $1 trillion of uneaten food. To compound the issue, along with all the wasted resources that went into the production of this wasted food (land, energy, manufacturing, labor, water, packaging, etc), once this waste hits the landfills, it decomposes, producing methane, a gas that is 23x deadlier than carbon dioxide.

It is estimated that, globally, one out of nine people are malnourished or starving and that it would take less than a quarter of the wasted food to feed each one adequately. 

Food supply has become globalized, leading to increased costs to export foods grown in developing countries, a displacement in the growth of crops that would otherwise feed native populations as well as a vast degradation of natural habitats. (1)

Food waste has produced an environmental catastrophe!

• Land deforestation
• Near extinction of certain species of animals
• Displacement of indigenous populations
• Soil degradation 

Technology Helping Fight Food Waste

Reducing food waste starts on the smallest scale – people. While technology continues to introduce gadgets and apps that will help us cut down on throwing away consumable goods, it is up to each of us to do our part.

Most foods now display a “use by ” date. This is a guideline. Smell the food before dumping it–if it has been stored properly, today’s food containers help keep food fresh for longer periods of time. 

For consumers…

Bluapple was developed to absorb ethylene gas (which causes food to spoil) in refrigerators, thereby increasing the shelf life of fresh produce up to 3x longer. 

On the commercial side…

BluWrap technology reduces oxygen and monitors shipping containers, helping extend the shelf life of fresh fish and meat. This real-time monitoring also makes more foods available to new markets.

BT9 XSENSE is a cold management system–it monitors the entire transit line for perishable food products–from the producer to store shelf. Problems along the route are identified in real time, allowing immediate corrective action throughout the entire supply chain.

Copia is one of the most innovative technologies, helping to connect businesses with food surplus to non-profit organizations to feed those in need. The program utilizes an “extensive food waste reduction dashboard”. The surplus food is redistributed to after-school programs, local shelters, etc.

• Businesses request pickups in real time
• Copia’s software helps businesses track/manage their surplus
• Businesses reduce their overall food costs

Edipeel is applied post-harvest and is helping to reduce food spoilage from harvest to consumption. Made from all natural plant extracts, this product is invisible, tasteless and edible — it serves as a skin-like barrier to protect produce and keep it fresher longer.

Gebni is the ultimate food app delivery service. This app adjusts prices based on real-time demand. Prices are lowered during off-peak hours,  increasing sales and accessibility of food delivery to low-income customers.

Commercial kitchens worldwide are benefitting from LeanPath through the use of smart meters. Kitchen staff can monitor trends, and track food waste. This not only reduces the amount of food waste but also helps manage overall food costs.

Smart packaging products that use RFID (radio frequency identification) technologies help extend the shelf-life of packaged food products, reducing the amount of food waste during transportation.

Wakati is a solar-powered, standalone device. Instead of a cooling system, it uses hydration to preserve food, “creating a low-cost, low-energy alternative to conventional refrigeration. Using just one liter of water per week and solar energy, the Wakati system functions to keep fresh produce hydrated, enabling farmers in warm climates to more effectively store their harvests on-farm and in transit, increasing their ability to bring crops to market.”

The hospitality industry is benefitting greatly from Winnow Systems innovative technology. Their system targets avoidable food waste by allowing kitchens to monitor food waste, and track what and how food is being wasted by identifying key areas producing the waste. (2)

Food Waste Prevention Initiatives  

U.N. Environment Programme (UNEP)recently launched Think.Eat.Save initiative and is working with groups globally to address, develop, and coordinate projects to prevent environmental problems resulting from food waste.

Here are just 4 examples of people and organizations taking action against food waste:

1. “Food Recovery Network (Maryland, United States) – A group of enterprising University of Maryland students decided to take action and launched this initiative with the goal of delivering cafeteria leftovers to local food shelters. It has since expanded to 11 chapters on campuses across the U.S. Students involved in the Food Recovery Network visit their campus dining halls nightly to rescue leftover food and deliver it to local shelters and food pantries. Close to 55,000 kilograms (121,000 pounds) of food have been rescued by the Network since 2011.
2. FUSIONS – Currently in development, FUSIONS hopes to tackle the issue throughout the supply chain, working with farmers so that they don’t reject less-than-perfect-looking produce. And they work with grocery stores to offer discounts to consumers on products that are nearing their expiration dates.
3. Last Minute Market (LMM) (Italy) – LMM works with farmers, processing centers, grocery stores, and other food sellers to reclaim food. Founded by BCFN adviser Andrea Segrè, LMM now runs food donation programs in more than 40 Italian communities.
4. Society of Saint Andrew (United States) – This national network connects volunteers with farms to glean produce that has been left unpicked after a harvest. The Society distributes the gleaned produce to food banks and other organizations serving marginalized communities. In 2012, the Society gleaned 23.7 million pounds of produce across the United States.”(3)

There are many more like-minded organizations, large and small, contributing to food waste prevention initiatives. By doing your part, recycling whenever and wherever you can, being conscientious of your food waste, etc., these small contributions go a long way to preventing food waste.

At Waste Wise Products, we have many options to help you recycle wisely — contact us today to learn more about their recycling bins and how you can contribute by reducing “food waste footprint”.

(1)https://olioex.com/food-waste/the-problem-of-food-waste/

(2)https://foodtank.com/news/2017/08/food-waste-technologies/

(3)https://foodtank.com/news/2015/01/twenty-one-inspiring-initiatives-working-to-reduce-food-waste-around-the-wo/