SEASON 1

We waste a third of our food. What can businesses do about it?

With our population set to reach over 9 billion by 2040, how can businesses feed people not at the cost of our planet?

"It's the third largest emitter of carbon after China and America, if it was a country. And we're planning to double our food supply by 2050 to feed the expected 9 billion on the planet, but yet wasting a third of what we produce.”

Jenny Costa
Rubies in the Rubble
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Who it’s for

Businesses who want to redistribute or repurpose food otherwise headed for waste.

1 thing you’ll get out of it

New applications and technologies can pave the way for circular economy solutions to food waste.

Why it matters

Do not be just another cog in a broken system. There is an opportunity to be part of the solution, while turning a profit.

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At the simplest level, food waste comes at a big cost: not only financially, but also environmentally and socially.  To varying degrees, we are all part of this mind bogglingly inefficient global food system.

We explore the history of food waste and its current social, economic and environmental impacts, and examine approaches businesses can take to help address the problem: redistribution, repurposing, and using technological innovations for more challenging examples of food waste.

Latest episode

SEASON 1
EPISODE 6

A third of our food goes to waste: the case for repurposing

This is part two of our series on the problem of food waste: we're wasting a third of our food, so what can businesses do about it? In this episode, we look at another tried and true approach for addressing the problem - repurposing - with a case study about condiments company Rubies in the Rubble.

SEASON 1
EPISODE 2

Podcast 2 "Title"

This is part two...

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We're always looking for case studies, experts and the latest studies to feature in our research. Let us know if you have something to say.

All fired up and ready to take action?

Find out where to focus your efforts towards getting out of this Pickle.

1. Ready to redistribute?

Assess the amount of food that you have in surplus and partner up with local organisations.

"Collect from the restaurants,  hotels, caterers, hospitals, farmers, food that they hate to throw away and make sure it's handled professionally. You can feed more people better food for less money." 

Robert Egger
DC Central Kitchen
2. Looking to repurpose?

Look at opportunities to develop new product lines using food that may otherwise go to waste, or partner up to find a new market.

"We have plant-based mayonnaise based on aquafaba, which is a byproduct of cooking chickpeas. So we've teamed up with hummus manufacturers."

Jenny Costa
Rubies in the Rubble
3. Apply technology to find new solutions

Find new technological applications or existing initiatives to create value from what has previously had limited or no commercial value.

“There's a real opportunity for smaller players in the market to disrupt by being innovative. The challenge you've got is getting above 15%.”

Bob Gordon
Zero Carbon Forum

Tools for taking action

Find out where to focus your efforts towards getting out of this Pickle.

Go deeper

Read the report, dive into our database of findings, or listen to a podcast to hear more from the experts on this topic.

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Explore our research

SEASON 1

We waste a third of our food. What can businesses do about it?

“If food waste were a country, it's the third largest emitter of carbon after China and America.”

DC Central Kitchen
Goterra
Rubies in the Rubble
Supply Chain
Natural Environment
Jenny Costa
Bob Gordon
Explore Pickle
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SEASON 1

The great packaging pileup: finding better ways to wrap up our goods

We need to fundamentally rethink and redesign packaging systems for the circular economy...

Cradle to Cradle
Kester Black
Refillable India
Supply Chain
Technology
Monica Becker
Anna Ross
Explore Pickle
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