BSR Insight | Food Waste: A Business Opportunity?
About the Author(s)
Nathan Springer, Associate, Advisory Services
Publication Date
August 28, 2012
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The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) recently found that Americans waste the equivalent of US$165 billion in food each year. Just like any type of supply chain inefficiency, this could be considered an opportunity. Not only is food waste costly, it perpetuates issues with food security and has environmental implications. Food waste in landfills accounts for nearly 25 percent of U.S. methane emissions. Agriculture uses 10 percent of energy, 50 percent of land, and 80 percent of fresh water expended in the U.S.—waste reduction efforts could help the industry decrease its reliance on these resources. The NDRC offers suggestions to government, business, and consumers to decrease food waste:
- Find alternative markets for products that don't meet quality standards, such as farmers markets and food banks.
- Clarify expiration labels so that consumers do not discard fresh food.
- Revise quality standards for produce or create new product lines for aesthetically imperfect food.
About the Author(s)
Nathan Springer, Associate, Advisory Services
Nate applies his experience connecting stakeholders and driving performance in the supply chain to consumer products, energy, and extractives companies... Read more →
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