While SNAP battle leaves Americans fearing hunger, near $400 billion in food at risk of waste every year – CNBC

Report on Food System Inefficiencies in the Context of Sustainable Development Goals

The Paradox of Food Insecurity and Waste: A Challenge to SDG 2 and SDG 12

A critical challenge to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is the concurrent existence of food insecurity and massive food waste. While millions of citizens face potential hunger due to disruptions in food assistance programs, directly contravening SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), the nation simultaneously grapples with immense food surplus. This report analyzes this dichotomy, highlighting innovative solutions that contribute to SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), particularly Target 12.3, which aims to halve per capita food waste by 2030.

• Scale of Food Waste: A 2025 report from the nonprofit ReFED indicates that $382 billion in surplus food was produced in 2023, underscoring the urgency of addressing production and consumption inefficiencies.
• Global Context: An estimated 40% of all food produced globally is wasted, a figure that impedes progress on climate action (SDG 13) due to methane emissions from landfills.
• Human Impact: Potential delays and reductions in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) place vulnerable households at risk, exacerbating challenges related to SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 2.

Market-Based Interventions for Responsible Consumption (SDG 12)

Connecting Surplus Food with Consumers

Private sector initiatives are creating circular economy models to redirect surplus food, directly contributing to SDG 12. Platforms like Too Good to Go provide a marketplace for restaurants and grocery stores to sell surplus food at a discount, preventing it from becoming waste. This model not only supports SDG 12 but also offers an economic buffer for consumers facing budget constraints, aligning with the principles of SDG 1.

Technological Innovations in Waste Reduction

Technology is a key enabler for achieving waste reduction targets. Several startups are deploying innovative solutions at both consumer and commercial levels.

1. Consumer-Level Solutions: Mill, a startup with $100 million in funding, has developed a smart kitchen bin that processes food scraps, reducing household food waste volume and odor.
2. Commercial-Level Solutions: Metafoodx utilizes a 3D AI scanner in commercial kitchens to track food usage and identify sources of waste, enabling data-driven reduction strategies.
3. Operational Efficiency: Companies like Vsimple are leveraging AI to digitize and streamline logistics for waste management providers, improving the efficiency of collection and processing systems.

Economic Growth and Sustainable Communities (SDG 8 & SDG 11)

Investment in the Circular Economy

The food waste sector is attracting significant investment, signaling a shift towards sustainable and resilient business models that support SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth). Investors are increasingly recognizing the stable, predictable returns of waste management and environmental services. This influx of capital is lowering barriers to entry and fostering innovation, creating economic opportunities in the green economy.

Developing Sustainable Municipal Systems

Efforts to build Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11) are evident in the growth of scalable composting services. Garbage to Garden, a company that began with a small-scale subscription model, now holds municipal contracts for waste pickup. This model demonstrates a viable pathway for cities to integrate circular principles into public services by diverting organic waste from landfills to be composted and used in local agriculture.

Socio-Economic Disparities and Policy Implications for SDG 1 and SDG 2

Consumption Patterns Among Vulnerable Households

A significant finding is the inverse relationship between income and food waste. Lower-income households, including SNAP beneficiaries, demonstrate higher efficiency and lower rates of food waste due to strict budget constraints. This highlights a critical socio-economic dimension of food systems: those most effective at upholding the principles of responsible consumption (SDG 12) are often the most exposed to food insecurity (SDG 2).

Policy Coherence for Sustainable Development

The current situation reveals a policy incoherence where cuts to social safety nets like SNAP may exacerbate poverty and hunger (SDG 1 and SDG 2) while the broader economy continues to generate massive food surplus. While market solutions like surplus food apps can provide temporary relief, a systemic approach is required. The primary objective for achieving the SDGs must be the reduction of food waste at its source, ensuring that food systems are equitable, efficient, and sustainable for all.

Analysis of the Article in Relation to Sustainable Development Goals

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

The article discusses issues related to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The primary connections are with goals concerning hunger, responsible consumption, economic growth, innovation, and sustainable communities. The analysis identifies the following SDGs as relevant:

• SDG 2: Zero Hunger: The article directly addresses food insecurity by highlighting the “fear that they will go hungry” among millions of Americans due to potential delays in SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) food assistance benefits. This connects to the goal of ending hunger and ensuring access to food.
• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production: This is a central theme of the article. It extensively discusses the problem of food waste, citing that “close to $400 billion in food is estimated to be at risk of going to waste every year” in the U.S. and that “Forty percent of all food is headed for the bin globally.” The various solutions presented, such as surplus food marketplaces (Too Good to Go) and composting services (Garbage to Garden), directly relate to promoting sustainable consumption and production patterns.
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: The article frames the food waste problem as a significant economic opportunity. It notes that “investors to mom-and-pop shops are finding that there are dollars to be salvaged in the food waste business,” and describes it as a “recession-resilient business.” This highlights the potential for creating economic growth and new jobs in the circular economy.
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: The article showcases various technological innovations and new business models designed to tackle food waste. Examples include “a 3D AI scanner that tracks food in commercial kitchens” (Metafoodx), a “smart kitchen bin that dries, shrinks, and de-stinks leftover food” (Mill), and digital platforms that streamline waste management operations. This aligns with the goal of fostering innovation and building resilient infrastructure.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: The article touches upon waste management at the municipal level. The example of Garbage to Garden, which started as a small subscription service and grew to secure “pickup contracts in cities like Boston and Medford, Massachusetts,” demonstrates a direct link to improving municipal waste management and making cities more sustainable.

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

Based on the issues discussed, several specific SDG targets can be identified:

1. Target 2.1: “By 2030, end hunger and ensure access by all people, in particular the poor and people in vulnerable situations… to safe, nutritious and sufficient food all year round.” The article’s focus on the potential lapse in SNAP benefits, which affects millions of Americans’ ability to access sufficient food, directly relates to this target.
2. Target 12.3: “By 2030, halve per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels and reduce food losses along production and supply chains…” The entire article is centered on this target, detailing the scale of food waste ($382 billion in surplus food) and presenting solutions like Too Good to Go and composting that aim to reduce waste at both the retail (grocery stores, restaurants) and consumer (homes) levels.
3. Target 8.2: “Achieve higher levels of economic productivity through diversification, technological upgrading and innovation…” The article describes how the food waste sector is attracting significant investment and how startups are using technology like AI to “streamline everything on the dispatch side” and create profitable, efficient businesses, thus contributing to economic productivity through innovation.
4. Target 11.6: “By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to… municipal and other waste management.” The success of Garbage to Garden in securing municipal contracts for composting services in cities like Boston is a direct example of actions being taken to improve municipal waste management, which is a key component of this target.

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

The article mentions or implies several quantitative and qualitative indicators that can be used to measure progress:

• For Target 2.1 (End Hunger):
  • Number of people reliant on food assistance: The article refers to “Millions of Americans” who depend on SNAP benefits. A reduction in this number could indicate progress, while an increase signifies a greater challenge.
• For Target 12.3 (Halve Food Waste):
  • Monetary value of wasted food: The article provides a specific figure: “$382 billion in surplus food was produced in 2023.” Tracking this value over time serves as a direct indicator of food waste levels.
  • Percentage of food wasted: The statistic that “Forty percent of all food is headed for the bin globally” is a key indicator. Progress would be measured by a reduction in this percentage.
  • Amount of food rescued: The article mentions that “Too Good to Go estimates eight meals get saved every second through its marketplace.” This metric directly measures the impact of food rescue initiatives.
  • Volume of waste composted: The growth of Garbage to Garden, which now serves “50,000 subscribers,” implies an increasing volume of food waste being diverted from landfills for composting.
• For Target 8.2 (Economic Productivity and Innovation):
  • Investment in the waste management sector: The article notes “The amount of transaction activity and the amount of interest in the sector is pretty impressive” and mentions specific funding like Metafoodx raising “$9.4 million.” These financial figures are indicators of economic growth and investor confidence in the sector.
• For Target 11.6 (Municipal Waste Management):
  • Number of municipal contracts for sustainable waste solutions: The article explicitly states that Garbage to Garden “has landed pickup contracts in cities like Boston and Medford, Massachusetts.” The number of cities adopting such programs is a clear indicator of progress in sustainable urban waste management.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: cnbc.com