Polyplexus’ Post

The Biden Administration's strategy to combat food waste is is long overdue, but the focus seems right. And it is important that the food loss and waste issue is officially recognized by the government. Acknowledging that there are roles for the private sector and individuals also is important. I would hope that a key emphasis would be to ensure that the food is used as food for people. That should be the priority. Other uses are also important, particularly if the alternative is to put food in the waste and have it go to the dump. To ensure correct actions, I think it would be very good to expand food donations through increased tax incentives, not just for companies but also for farmers. Still, using excess or unwanted food for compost, making natural gas, and recovering NPK, or feeding it to animals is far better than letting it decompose in landfills and generate methane.

FINALLY A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO A DEVASTATING PROBLEM Roughly 30 percent of the country’s food supply isn’t eaten, but thrown away or otherwise wasted. In fact, food is the single largest volume of material sent to landfills and incinerators in the United States. When uneaten food goes into landfills, it breaks down and produces as much greenhouse gas emissions annually as dozens of coal-burning power plants, according to the federal government. The White House strategy involves efforts to change the behavior of both businesses and individuals to reduce waste, as well as to fund research into extending the shelf life of perishable foods, expand food donations and turn food waste into usable commodities like compost, gas or animal feed. “Everyone has a role to play in reducing food loss and waste, and I hope that these federal commitments will inspire and catalyze action in the private sector and communities around the U.S.,” the secretary of agriculture, Tom Vilsack, said in a statement.

Did you know that the U.S. wastes nearly 60 million tons of food annually? That's almost 40% of the entire food supply! This waste equals 325 pounds per person, filling landfills and contributing to environmental harm. Meanwhile, 35 million Americans, including 10 million children, face food insecurity. Why so much waste? Misunderstood expiration labels, over-purchasing, and underutilization of leftovers are key factors. But there's hope! States like Vermont have enacted laws to ban food waste, boosting food donations by 40%. Innovative businesses are turning food waste into new products, and initiatives are emerging to reduce waste in homes and restaurants. Let's reduce waste by understanding labels, composting, planning meals, and donating surplus food. Together, we can make a difference for the planet and those in need. 🌱 #FoodWaste #Sustainability #FoodSecurity #ClimateChange #EcoFriendly #EETZRescue

Last Week, WasteMINZ and New Zealand Food Waste Champions 12.3 Charitable Trust (NZFWC 12.3 Trust) co-hosted an inspiring Food Waste Summit focused exploring the collaboration required to support Aotearoa’s moves to reduce our food waste and delve into the data behind the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor’s latest food waste report.  Key themes? 🧐 💻 Data and Culture: We need better data—and we need to use what we have effectively. Most importantly, food waste reduction must become part of our DNA, ingrained in our everyday actions. 🎤 We heard powerful presentations, like Kyrin Gourley at Foodstuffs South Island, linking their 1200 staff to food waste solutions, and Stephanie Cavell at NZ Cherry Corp, transforming surplus cherries into delicious products. 📢 Sheila Skeaff emphasised the importance of baseline data, while Sam Oakden from End Food Waste Australia showed the impact of a unified approach. 💡 A vibrant panel, facilitated by Dame Juliet Gerrard, with Catherine Langabeer, Sam Oakden, Angela Clifford and Joya Kemper debated the need for a national food waste strategy, and we closed with a call to action: Use the Kai Commitment - Target, Measure, Act, Collaborate - to drive real change. Together, we’re building a food waste movement that can’t be ignored! 💪 #LoveFoodHateWasteNZ #FoodWaste #Collaboration #SustainabilityNZ

Did you know that each year roughly 1.17 billion tonnes of food is wasted around the world each year?🥦🗑️ A big part of our mission here at Harvest Algoma centres around food rescue! We work with 7 retail locations across Sault Ste. Marie to rescue produce, dairy, meat, bakery items, and dry goods which would otherwise end up in the landfill. These items get sorted here in our warehouse where they are then refrigerated, frozen, or turned into meals that are accessed by social service agencies on behalf of their clients. 🍝 In a world where hunger persists and the global climate crisis threatens our very existence, we're committed to being part of the solution! 🌎 This caption wouldn't be complete if we didn't give a shoutout to Clean North, a local environmental charity who we partner with to make sure any food waste that can't be salvaged is composted ♻️ this allows us to turn our waste into a valuable tool to increase our soil health and grow our own local produce in our greenhouses and outdoor garden beds! 🌱 #FoodSecurity #FoodWaste #FoodRescue

So great to see the Fed government finally focusing on this issue we have been talking about for years. We should have incentives for companies to waste less and upcycle more, then we need to compost all post consumer food waste to avoid it going into landfill uselessly!! #upcycle #foodwaste #composting

The government will look at ways to extend the shelf life of foods and to create more composting and other facilities, as well as urge companies to donate more food. Roughly 30% of the country’s food supply isn’t eaten, but thrown away or otherwise wasted, and is the single largest volume of material sent to landfills and incinerators in the U.S.

Transform your Thanksgiving leftovers with some delicious ideas to prevent waste. Thanksgiving is a wonderful time for feasting and family, but it also leads to significant food waste. Here are some key points about the current status of Thanksgiving food waste: Massive Waste: It's estimated that over 300 million pounds of food will be wasted this Thanksgiving. This includes about 200 million pounds of turkey alone. Environmental Impact: Food waste contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. For example, the methane produced from Thanksgiving food waste is equivalent to powering 26,000 homes for a year. Economic Cost: The financial impact is substantial, with over $556 million worth of groceries expected to be thrown away. Resource Use: Producing food requires significant resources. For instance, one pound of turkey meat uses about 520 gallons of water. Reducing food waste can help mitigate these impacts. Simple steps like planning portions, using leftovers creatively, and donating excess food can make a big difference. Donate Unsued Food: If you have unopened, non-perishable items, consider donating them to our food pantry, shelter, or larger food banks. This helps those in need and prevents food from going to waste. Compost Food Scraps: Composting reduces waste, diverts organic waste from landfills, improves soil health, and saves money. #thanksgivingleftovers #give #homeless #neighbors #meals #stopfoodwaste #AZFHGivingHope

Did you know that globally, an estimated 40% of food does not make it from the paddock and packhouse to the plate? Food waste is responsible for 6-8% of global carbon emissions. At the same time, even though Aotearoa produces enough calories to feed 20 million people, one in five tamariki live in households that experience moderate to severe food insecurity.   Join WasteMINZ and New Zealand Food Waste Champions 12.3 Charitable Trust (NZFWC 12.3 Trust) for the the 3rd Te Hui Taumata Moumou Kai o Aotearoa – New Zealand Food Waste Summit, being hosted online.   The summit is open to anyone who is interested in reducing food waste or is part of the food value chain – growers, manufacturers, distributors, retailers, hospitality industry, food rescuers, researchers and anywhere in between! We'll be exploring the collaboration required to support Aotearoa’s moves to reduce our food waste and delving into the data behind the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor’s latest food waste report. Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/g__udfWp

Does anyone feel the pain when leftover food in restaurants go to trash 🗑...! I was raised in family that respected the value of food, and appreciate it's not available for millions around the world. Our grandparents used to tell us urban legends about the danger of throwing leftovers 😊 when I searched I found below facts Food waste in restaurants is a significant issue with substantial economic and environmental implications. Key statistics include: 1️⃣ Volume of Waste: In the United States, restaurants generate an estimated 22 to 33 billion pounds of food waste annually. 2️⃣ Waste Per Meal: Approximately half a pound of food is wasted per meal in restaurants 3️⃣ Disposal Methods: A significant portion of unused food in American restaurants—around 85%—is discarded, with only a small percentage being recycled or donated. let's try to limit this waste. #FoodWasteAwareness #StopFoodWaste #ZeroWaste #ReduceFoodWaste #FoodRescue #WasteLess #SustainableFood #NoFoodWaste #FoodForThought #FoodWasteSolution #sustainably