Which technologies will actually help fight at-home food waste? – AgFunderNews

Report on Food Waste Reduction as a Key Driver for Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: The Challenge of Food Waste in the Context of Global Sustainability

A significant surge in food waste, estimated at a 25% increase during holiday periods, presents a critical challenge to achieving several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). With residential households identified as the primary source of this surplus, the issue directly impacts SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) and SDG 2 (Zero Hunger). The projected waste of over 300 million pounds of food during a single holiday like Thanksgiving in the United States underscores the urgency of integrating sustainable practices into daily consumer behavior to meet global targets.

Analysis of Food Surplus and its Developmental Implications

Key Data on Food Waste and its Conflict with SDG 12.3

The scale of food surplus in the United States directly contravenes the objective of SDG Target 12.3, which aims to halve per capita food waste at the consumer and retail levels by 2030. The environmental impact of this waste also undermines SDG 13 (Climate Action) due to methane emissions from landfills.

• Total Surplus Food (2023): 73.9 million tons were generated.
• Residential Share of Surplus: Households account for 35.2% of all surplus food, making consumer-focused solutions critical.
• Dominant Waste Category: Produce represents 43.7% of surplus food, highlighting a need for better preservation and distribution strategies.
• Donation Shortfall: Only 1.75 million tons of surplus food were donated, indicating a significant missed opportunity to advance SDG 2 (Zero Hunger).
• Declining Investment: Private investment in food waste solutions fell from nearly $2 billion in 2021 to $640 million in 2024, threatening the innovation required to achieve SDG targets.

Strategies and Solutions for Advancing Sustainable Consumption

Consumer-Level Interventions for SDG 12

Technological innovations offer promising pathways to empower consumers to reduce waste, although accessibility and cost remain significant barriers.

Smart Home and Kitchen Technologies

• Smart Appliances: Refrigerators from manufacturers like Samsung and LG, along with add-on devices like the Smarter FridgeCam, help consumers track inventory to prevent spoilage. However, their high cost limits widespread adoption.
• At-Home Composting: Devices such as The Mill and FoodCycler enable households to manage organic waste, contributing to SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) by diverting waste from landfills. Cost remains a prohibitive factor for many.
• Inventory Management Applications: Software tools like the Sayvr app provide consumers with the means to track food, understand expiration dates, and utilize leftovers, fostering the behavioral change necessary for responsible consumption.

Upstream and Policy-Level Actions for Systemic Change

Addressing consumer food waste requires a multi-stakeholder approach, involving coordinated efforts from businesses and governments, in line with SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

Supply Chain and Retailer Responsibilities

• Date Label Education: A primary opportunity for retailers is to standardize date labels and educate consumers on their meaning to prevent the premature disposal of food.
• Shelf-Life Extension: The application of preservation technologies, such as protective coatings, at the retail stage can extend the viability of perishable goods.
• Investment Disparity: Venture capital funding currently favors solutions for the foodservice sector (e.g., Metafoodx, Topanga) over consumer-facing tools, indicating a need to rebalance investment to tackle waste where it is most prevalent.

Government and Policy Frameworks

• Legislative Models: California’s Senate Bill 1383, which mandates organic waste collection for residents and businesses, provides a scalable policy framework for advancing SDG 11.
• Federal Policy Advocacy: There is a recognized need for federal-level policies modeled on successful state initiatives to create a national impact on waste reduction and management.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
   • The article’s central theme is food waste, which is a primary concern of SDG 12. It explicitly discusses unsustainable consumption patterns, particularly in US households, which “generate almost half of all surplus food in the supply chain.” The statistics provided, such as “73.9 million tons of surplus food the US generated in 2023,” directly address the scale of the problem targeted by this goal.
2. SDG 2: Zero Hunger
   • While not the main focus, the article connects to SDG 2 by highlighting the vast quantity of edible food that is wasted instead of being used to feed people. It states that out of 73.9 million tons of surplus food, only “1.75 million… tons of surplus food [were] donated.” This disparity underscores the missed opportunity to use surplus food to improve food security and work towards ending hunger.
3. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
   • The article touches upon municipal waste management, a key component of sustainable cities. It mentions “California passed its Senate Bill 1383 that requires jurisdictions to provide organic waste collection for residents and businesses.” This policy is a direct effort to manage urban waste more sustainably, which is a core objective of SDG 11.
4. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • Food waste is a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions when it decomposes in landfills. Although the article does not explicitly mention emissions, it refers to Minerva Ringland as the “senior manager of climate & insights at ReFED.” This title implies that the issue of food waste is analyzed and addressed within the context of climate change, connecting the article’s subject matter to the broader goals of climate action.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 12.3: Halve per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels.
   • The article is directly aligned with this target. It focuses heavily on consumer-level waste, noting that “US residential homes generate almost half of all surplus food” and that food waste “goes up about 25% this time of year, with households the largest source.” The solutions discussed, such as smart fridges and inventory management apps, are all aimed at reducing food waste at the consumer level.
2. Target 12.5: Substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse.
   • The article discusses various strategies that fall under this target. Prevention is addressed through “apps that prevent waste through smarter cooking” and education on date labels. Reduction is the goal of inventory management tools. Recycling is covered through the mention of “at-home composters, especially those built for the kitchen like The Mill and FoodCycler.” Reuse is implied by apps like Sayvr, which help users “deconstruct leftover restaurant meals for use in new recipes.”
3. Target 2.1: End hunger and ensure access by all people… to safe, nutritious and sufficient food.
   • The article’s data on the massive amount of surplus food (“73.9 million tons”) versus the relatively small amount donated (“1.75 million tons”) directly relates to this target. Reducing waste could significantly increase the amount of food available for donation, thereby improving access to food for vulnerable populations.
4. Target 11.6: Reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to… municipal and other waste management.
   • The reference to “California passed its Senate Bill 1383 that requires jurisdictions to provide organic waste collection” is a concrete example of a policy aimed at achieving this target. Such policies improve municipal waste management systems and reduce the environmental impact of waste generated in cities.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Quantitative Indicators Mentioned:
   • Total Surplus Food Generated: The article states “73.9 million: tons of surplus food the US generated in 2023.” This is a direct measure of the scale of food waste.
   • Share of Waste from Residential Sector: The figure “35.2%: amount of overall surplus food coming from residential settings” can be used to track progress in reducing household food waste.
   • Seasonal Waste Increase: The statistic that “Food waste goes up about 25% this time of year” can be used to measure the effectiveness of holiday-specific campaigns.
   • Amount of Food Donated: The “1.75 million: number of tons of surplus food donated” is an indicator of how much surplus food is being redirected to address hunger.
   • Investment in Solutions: The “$640 million: amount of private investment deployed in 2024 to fight food waste” serves as an indicator of financial commitment to solving the problem.
2. Implied Indicators:
   • Adoption Rate of Waste-Reduction Technologies: The article discusses smart fridges, at-home composters, and inventory management apps. The number of households using these technologies would be an indicator of progress in waste prevention and recycling.
   • Implementation of Waste Management Policies: The article mentions California’s SB 1383 and the hope for “federal uptake.” The number of states or municipalities that enact similar mandatory organic waste collection policies can serve as an indicator for improved municipal waste management.
   • Consumer Awareness and Behavior Change: The article highlights “confusion over date labels” as a reason for waste. Progress could be measured through surveys on consumer understanding of these labels and changes in their food disposal habits.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: agfundernews.com