Food waste is an escalating global issue, with about 33% of all food produced ending up wasted in the United States alone. This problem is particularly acute in the US, as 1 in 8 Americans experiences food insecurity. This paradox of food waste amid hunger underscores the urgent need for effective solutions. Additionally, food waste significantly contributes to climate change, accounting for approximately 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions, as per the EPA. In September 2015, recognizing the urgent need to reduce food waste, the U.S. announced the U.S. 2030 Food Loss and Waste Reduction Goal, aiming to halve per person food waste at both the retail and consumer levels. Following this, several states, including California, have either enacted organic recycling laws or have banned organic waste.
One of the effective solutions to reduce Food Loss and Waste Reduction is Food Rescue or Food Recovery. Replate, as the name effectively suggests, has been instrumental in recovering and redistributing millions of pounds of good food that would have been otherwise discarded or spoiled. The changing laws have further bolstered Replate’s efforts to recover more food. As they scale, Replate, in Partnership with Rubbish, will integrate cutting-edge AI and image recognition technologies to automate and enhance the food rescue process. This technology increases the volume of food recovered, reduces CO2 emissions, and diverts more food from landfills and compost facilities.
Check out the Rubbish app's food pickup feature in action, which enables more efficient collection of data for food recovery.
This solution has the potential to deliver substantial environmental benefits by reducing food waste and its associated greenhouse gas emissions. By increasing the volume of food recovered and diverted from landfills, the technology contributes to a more sustainable and environmentally conscious food system. This collaboration between a technology company and a social benefit organization aims to foster a more connected and cohesive food rescue ecosystem. With Rubbish and Replate sharing a common goal of creating a more equitable and sustainable food system that prioritizes the well-being of both people and the planet, we are setting a new standard for food rescue and making a meaningful impact on communities and the environment.
Click here to download the Rubbish app and try out the different features. Rubbish welcomes any and all feedback, including on the innovative food recovery function.
