Many companies have made it their mission to combat food waste and food insecurity. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the United States wastes 40 million tons of food annually. Eradicating food waste is one viable way of staving off the food insecurity plaguing economically challenged communities worldwide. This practice is critical since the World Health Organization reports that more than 800 million people will go hungry each year. The COVID-19 crisis exacerbated hunger in already-vulnerable communities, demonstrating the need for more significant intervention to solve this ongoing issue. 

So what is food waste? It’s the foods we consume that are deemed inedible and therefore discarded. However, these items are often thrown out before they expire, and in numerous instances, they are disposed of simply for aesthetic reasons. The statistics mentioned above are staggering, and that’s why these five companies and their contributions to ending hunger are so impressive.

Founded in Montreal in 2013, Dose Juice uses only organic ingredients to craft its juices, smoothies, and cleanses. The company’s determination to end food waste is a simple one, as explained on its website: “Since we only use organic ingredients, it will happen that we temporarily suspend the production of one of our flavors due to a certain ingredient being unavailable in the organic section.”

As many clothing and furniture brands shift towards sustainable and plant-based products, one standout in the Netherlands is creating fabrics using discarded fruits. FruitLeather offers an eCommerce portal and an inside look into how its materials are made on its website.

Since its inception in August 2015, Imperfect Foods has garnered a loyal base, ensuring that nothing edible goes unsold when it can be eaten and enjoyed. The company explains its mission: “By partnering with farmers and producers, we help save ugly produce, surplus items, and more from being wasted.” Imperfect Foods has a subscription-based business model. The company fills each delivery based on the items chosen and placed in the customer’s digital shopping cart. The foods arrive in a box right at your doorstep, which is ideal for customers who live in areas where fresh fruits and vegetables are not easily accessible. In many cases, there are few noticeable differences in the produce customers receive versus what’s available in stores. Vegans can even customize their orders to receive products that meet their dietary needs.

Panera Bread isn’t just an excellent place for a salad and a sandwich. This restaurant donates its unsold bread and other offerings to local hunger-relief organizations. Vegans are also welcome since Panera has an extensive list of menu items for plant-based palates. Finally, black bean veggie burgers are so last year. A Hawaiian company called Caju Love has created a burger made from cashew fruit meat. What’s even more exciting about this product is its environmental impact: Cashew fruit meat keeps a low carbon footprint because it doesn’t require additional water or land for production.

Fighting food waste to end hunger is a goal that every company and individual should prioritize. The sooner this practice is normalized, the more positive the impact will be on the world around us.

Source: Dose Juice, Imperfect Foods