Dear Friends and Colleagues,
We’re barely into the new year and so many exciting things have already happened in the wasted food space, and I can’t wait to continue with this momentum. Being highlighted in the Greenbiz January article 12 Women Cultivating Sustainable Food Systems in 2022 among so many other impressive women was a huge honor. Another early highlight was being named the president of the Upcycled Food Association, an organization that offers a powerful step forward in growing the upcycled food economy.
As you can see, we’re picking up the newsletter again! With so many inspiring opportunities presenting themselves this year, I want this to be a space for highlighting important industry news, and an opportunity to let you in on my work and insights on the food space. Here are some themes that are influencing my perspective, and that I’m excited to spend my time on this year:
- Consumer Education to Reduce Food Waste:
We have a huge opportunity at this essential moment in the climate crisis to empower consumers through education. As eaters become more and more conscious of where their food comes from, guiding them with information around sourcing and sustainability is becoming essential. - Date Labeling Policy:
The introduction of the Date Labeling Standardization bill (S. 3324 and H.R. 6167) is vital for addressing confusion around date labels, which is one of the largest drivers of consumer food waste. Hellmann’s is leading the charge to get industry support and bi-partisan co-sponsors for the bill, and if successful, the eventual passing of the bill will amplify the message of mitigating food waste to the entire country. - Upcycling:
Upcycling has become immensely popular recently: companies like Misfits Market and Imperfect Foods have grown exponentially, illustrating the potential of upcycling to grow into an industry standard. The UFA continues to make this possible through their certification label, a tangible tool for consumer education and marketing.
A few exciting updates from my clients:
- Hellmann’s continued their commitment to ending food waste with a primetime commercial during Sunday’s Super Bowl. The spot, featuring retired football legend Jerod Mayo, encourages people to get creative and join us to “tackle food waste” in their own homes. Hellmann’s also launched their Fridge Night app, a four-week program that is proven to help people reduce their food waste at home. Watch the ad below and download the Fridge Night app here.
- Matriark Foods, a former client, was just granted funding by Stanford’s GSB Impact Fund. Matriark is a supply chain innovator that upcycles vegetable remnants from into nutritious products at a reasonable price point for foodservice customers. I’m so proud of all of the innovation they continue to push, and I can’t wait to see what they do next.
I’m so looking forward to continuing to share the most exciting news in the food industry through this newsletter; I also aim to celebrate your work and achievements, and make this a valuable space for all.
Yours in partnership,
Eva
What We’re Reading
Across the Food System
What You Need to Know About California’s New Composting Law — A Game Changer for Food Waste – Food & Wine
How Behavioral Science Can Help Mitigate Food Waste – FoodTank
Here Are The Top Food Tech And Sustainability Predictions For 2022 – Forbes
Report Reveals Need for Prioritizing Nutritious Food Donations – FoodTank
Andrew Zimmern Traveled the World for Food. Now He Takes on a New Challenge. – Washington Post
12 Women Cultivating Sustainable Food Systems – GreenBiz
CES Food Tech Conference: Tackling Food Waste with Technology – The Spoon
How Successful Are Food Waste Solutions? – Technology Networks
How Women Are Forging Paths in the Plant-Based Food World – SmartBrief
Infographic: Hunger and Food Insecurity in Maps and Charts – Al Jazeera
A Food Desert in an Urban Neighborhood – JSTOR Daily
NYC Must Enact a Universal Food Waste Composting Law – NRDC
Consumer Education
Massimo Bottura Wants You to Stop Wasting Your Food – Time
Upcycled Certified™ Products and Ingredients Projected to Prevent 703 Million Pounds of Food Waste Per Year – PR Newswire
Can Dynamic Pricing Reduce Food Waste in Supermarkets? – Salon
This Banana Will Last Longer Because it’s Covered in an Edible Coating Made from Food Waste – Fast Company
Consumer Interest in Sustainability Higher Than Retailers Believe – Food Business News
Antimicrobial Packaging Extends Food Shelf Life, Reducing Emissions Associated With Food Waste – Intelligent Living
Changes to Menu Messaging Can Increase Sales of Climate-friendly Food – World Resources Institute
Survey: 55% of Consumers Consider Sustainability When Grocery Shopping – The Beet
Food Startup Loop Mission Turns Surplus Produce Into Juice, Snacks and Booze – Bloomberg Businessweek
Agriculture
Billions of Animals Are Slaughtered Every Year — Just to be Wasted – Vox
At Expo 2020 Dubai, the Netherlands Pavilion Makes Its Own Water to Grow Food in the Desert Heat – CNN