Tackling food waste

Jeanne O'Rourke | October 30, 2019 | Newsletters

Catrina Damrell

Field Manager, Grocery Stewardship Certification program

Did you know that about one-third of food globally is wasted or lost? And that that waste contributes 8 percent of total greenhouse gas emissions? The waste occurs throughout the food system – from the farms to your very own kitchen to the grocery store.

When food is thrown away, it ends up in landfills where it releases methane, a potent greenhouse gas, as it rots. In 2015, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimated that in the United States ‘more food reached landfills and combustion facilities than any other single material in our everyday trash, at 22 percent of the amount landfilled and at 22 percent of the amount combusted with energy recovery.’ More recently, the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)’s August report recommended tackling food waste as a key measure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and address food security.

Grocery stores are at the heart of our food system here in the U.S., connecting shoppers, consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies and farms. There are many reasons that grocery companies are working on addressing food waste. Food waste diversion can cut costs on hauling waste to landfills, by sending the food to composters, farmers raising livestock, or bio-energy producers. Food waste diversion provides a tangible sustainability practice to engage customers and employees.

As part of its strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, Manomet’s Grocery Stewardship Certification (GSC) program emphasizes the reduction of food waste during its trainings with employees and store leaders. Many grocery chains and stores in the GSC have developed innovative solutions to managing food waste. In 2018, Hannaford diverted 8 million pounds of food waste to compost farms and diverted 13 million pounds of food waste to a biodigester, creating clean energy at Exeter Agri-Energy. In its 2018 sustainability report, Weis Markets highlighted their increase in food donations to more than 860 tons through the company’s expanding partnership with Feeding America, a key component of its commitment as a U.S. Food Loss & Waste 2030 Champion.

Food waste for diversion at a Weis Markets GSC grocery store.

Signage at a Hannaford Supermarket showing how to compost.

Catrina Damrell at Bullock's Grocery.

GSC retailer Giant Eagle also includes food waste management as a key strategy. “We strive to take a comprehensive approach to meeting this challenge through strong partnerships with area food banks, real-time food rescue agencies, and through innovative waste diversion initiatives like our recently launched Waste to Animal Feed Program,” says Giant Eagle Spokesperson, Jannah Jablonowski.

It’s not only the bigger chain grocery store stores that are working to reduce food waste. “My businesses’ philosophy on food waste is based on values I was taught by my grandparents: ‘you don’t waste food,’” explained Forest Hill, owner of Bullock’s Grocery in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico. “Any produce that’s no longer sellable but still edible is quickly grabbed by neighbors who feed their livestock with it. Day-old bread from the bakery is donated to our local food pantry. If you can find another use for these items, then why not pursue that. It’s a great way to engage on a deeper level with our community, too.”

There are many people working throughout the food system to reduce food waste, but it’s important to focus on what we can all do at home as well.

Buy only what you need.
Plan your meals ahead of time, write a list and stick to it!
Focus on Food Storage
How you store your foods, especially items like fruits and vegetables, can have a big effect on how long they stay safe to eat. Check out the Food Keeper app to find out how to best store different foods. I’m a big fan of using paper towels to absorb moisture when storing salads and greens.
Compost Food Waste
Food waste is a great resource for creating soil rich in nutrients. Unfortunately, most food ends up in our waste stream rather than in our gardens. When you start a compost pile at home; you’ll divert the food waste from your household waste, contribute to keeping the city tax burden low, and enjoy a nutrient-rich soil for your garden. If you live in an urban setting and can’t compost in your backyard, setting up an indoor mealworm composting unit is a clean, fun way to create that circle of life and can be used as a science experiment for kids. Or, if worms aren’t your thing, composting startups and city policy changes are creating more opportunities for urbanites to do their part to divert food waste, often picking it up the same time as their regular trash and recycling.

And speaking of composting, at Manomet headquarters, we do our best to responsibly manage food waste and follow the tips listed in this article. We find composting to be an excellent way to both effectively manage organic food waste and treat the soil in our Garden for Wildlife. Occasionally, we’ll also pull food from the staff fridges leftover from events or group meals and either use it for lunch that day or encourage others to bring some home to their families. And, of course, certain produce items that we can no longer use make excellent additions to our bird feeders. All those long-distance migrants and chilly over-winterers certainly appreciate it!

What else do grocery stores do to be more sustainable?

Learn more about the GSC!