ReFED Newsroom
Newsroom
ReFED Articles
GUEST BLOG: How EatOrToss is Empowering Consumers to Waste Less by Understanding their Food Better
May 17, 2022
ReFED Data Reveal Private Investment into Food Waste Solutions Topped $7.8 Billion Since 2011 – Including a Record $2 Billion in 2021 Alone
May 11, 2022
The Past Ten Years Saw a Steady Acceleration in the Quantity and Size of Food Waste Deals, As More Funders Recognize the Environmental, Economic, and Social Benefits the Space Offers.
ReFED and EDF Announce Private Sector Partners for 2022 Climate Corps Food Waste Fellowship
May 10, 2022
The effort supports the growing number of brands that are making public commitments to reduce food waste but aren't always able to advance their reduction strategy efficiently without additional resources to drive progress.
24 Hours A Day: The True Cost of Time Within our Food System
May 10, 2022
An art installation curated for the Food Waste Solutions Summit that illustrates the concept of ‘time’ as valued through the disparate relationships that various communities in Minnesota and beyond have with food.
Examining Plastic and Food Waste: A Package Deal
May 5, 2022
Plastic is cheap and lightweight but also protective – keeping food products clean, safe, convenient, and often helping them last longer. That last point is arguably the most important in a growing debate over society’s use of plastic and a recognition that reducing food waste is one of the most...
GUEST BLOG: Geopolitics, Fertilizers, and… Food Waste?
April 28, 2022
ReFED’s Roadmap to 2030 highlights that “Maximum Product Utilization” is critical to developing a closed loop food system. Guest author Riyana Razalee, Head of Business Development at Re-Nuble discusses how current geopolitical events increase the urgency to adopt solutions that upcycle previously unused waste streams.
The Next Farm Bill Can Save Money, Reduce Food Waste, Address Hunger, and Combat Climate Change
April 26, 2022
New report details how Congress can tackle pervasive food waste – and the substantial benefits it would bring.
New Data Will Serve a Critical Role in Helping Food Businesses Along the West Coast Reduce Food Waste
April 18, 2022
First of its kind data reporting from the Pacific Coast Food Waste Commitment shows unsold food rates, waste destinations, and impacts.
IPCC Reports Give a Stark Reminder of What Is Needed to Meet Climate Goals
April 18, 2022
The future depends not only on how we cut down emissions, but just as importantly how we respond to the challenge of living with the changes already underway.
Food Waste Reduction at Google and Beyond: Back to Basics
April 13, 2022
Can reducing food waste be more difficult than rocket science? Maybe not, but when an organization is serving tens of millions of meals per year at locations across the world, it can certainly be a complex issue. Recently ReFED Executive Director Dana Gunders sat down with Emily Ma, Head of...
GUEST BLOG: Combating Climate Change Through Upcycled Candy
April 12, 2022
Fruits and vegetables are the most wasted product and have the highest climate impact. We can minimize environmental impact by putting all these fruits and vegetables to use by utilizing the whole food with their vitamins and nutrients.
Thinking Creatively About Capital: Blended Finance
April 6, 2022
While it's still in its infancy, blended finance has achieved recognition and attention as an emerging solution to the private capital funding gap for meeting Sustainable Development Goals – including food waste.
WEBINAR RECAP: Supply Chain Woes Likely to Continue for “Decades, Not Years”
March 30, 2022
Considering the domino effects of one problem leading to another, solutions are not easy, which is one reason experts expect the current status quo to continue for some time.
GUEST BLOG: People Matter Too – Why Community-Led Solutions Help Address Food Waste and Build Power
March 23, 2022
Without input from community members on their needs, an entire half of the equation is missing, which doesn’t address the food waste problem holistically and causes harm to communities receiving food.
Walmart and Sodexo Join Pacific Coast Food Waste Commitment to Help Cut Regional Food Waste in Half by 2030
March 21, 2022
Their participation extends their efforts to fight food waste and serves as an inspiration for other businesses to do their part.
ReFED Announces Upcoming $10 Million Catalytic Grant Fund with Anchor Funding from Google
March 7, 2022
Today, ReFED announced that Google is providing $1 million in anchor funding for the upcoming ReFED Catalytic Grant Fund, a new five-year initiative designed to provide non-dilutive and patient capital that de-risks and scales food waste solutions with the potential for high impact.
Celebrating Female-Led Food Waste Solution Providers on International Women’s Day
March 7, 2022
ReFED is celebrating and amplifying inspiring female leaders working across the food system to ensure we make the best use of the food we grow.
The Power of Policy: Legislative and Regulatory Action to Reduce Food Waste
February 18, 2022
Policy is a critical lever for accelerating the adoption of food waste reduction solutions at a large scale – and 2021 was a watershed year for food waste policy at all levels of government.
Special Report: 2022 in Food Waste Investment
February 9, 2022
Food waste has established itself as an emerging business category driven by a growing focus on climate change, concerns about supply chain disruptions (which are leading to higher costs), and validation from food waste success stories- we remain excited about the opportunities that 2022 will bring.
Tackling Rising Food Prices and Food Waste in 2022
January 31, 2022
In this environment of uncertainty, scarcity, and higher prices, reducing food waste becomes even more critical, because it reduces costs and controls supply chain risks.
GUEST BLOG: Fighting Climate Change with Food
January 5, 2022
Farming using sustainable, regenerative agricultural practices can help mitigate climate change and grow healthier food.
Food Scraps Could Change the Game - But Not Without Help
December 16, 2021
Recycling and composting offer the opportunity to divert almost 21 million tons of food waste annually, but government grants and regulations are needed to help spur change.
ReFED and Upcycled Food Association Launch Food Waste Funder Circle to Empower Capital Providers to Close the Food Waste Funding Gap
December 8, 2021
New network supports private, public, and philanthropic funders to drive capital needed to reach 50% food waste reduction goal by 2030.
New EPA Report: The Environmental Impacts of Food Waste, Part 1
December 8, 2021
Last week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a new report on the environmental footprint of food loss and waste in the U.S.
Winners Announced for the $1 Million Wonderful Innovation Challenge
December 1, 2021
ReFED partnered with The Wonderful Company on the global contest to design solutions for 50,000 tons of pomegranate husks to reduce food waste and create a more sustainable supply chain.
Thankful You're Thinking About Food Waste
November 23, 2021
Tips from ReFED on how you can minimize food waste this Thanksgiving.
EPA Makes a Significant Change to its Definition of “Food Waste”
November 19, 2021
An ambitious new baseline for measuring progress toward 2030 now classifies any food leaving the human supply chain as waste.
ReFED Releases 2022 Food Waste Forecast and Predicts More Than 300 Million Pounds of Food Will Go To Waste This Thanksgiving Alone
November 17, 2021
From Local Government Policy to Multinational Business Initiatives, ReFED Outlines What Trends to Expect in the Global Effort to End Food Waste
“Following the Roadmap”: Recycle Anything Remaining
November 12, 2021
Capturing nutrients, energy, or other residual value for any food or food scraps that remain offers one of the largest opportunities for decreasing the amount of food going to waste in our food system.
Closed Loop Partners Collaborates with PepsiCo, the NextGen Consortium & Other Leading Brands to Advance Composting Infrastructure & Recover Compostable Packaging and Food Scraps
November 9, 2021
ReFED serves as Advisory Partner for the new Composting Consortium, which aims to pilot industry-wide solutions and build a roadmap for investment in technologies and infrastructure to address the growth in production of compostable food packaging
SPECIAL COP26 REPORT: Why We Should Tackle Methane Emissions Through Food Waste Reduction
November 5, 2021
Targeting methane sources like food waste now can reduce atmospheric GHG concentrations in just a decade or two.
The Obstacles to More Efficient Food Rescue and Donation are Challenging – but Eminently Solvable
October 29, 2021
By partnering with food rescue professionals, businesses can overcome the “what ifs” that are sometimes associated with food donations.
"Following the Roadmap": Strengthen Food Rescue
October 19, 2021
A stronger food rescue system requires expanded storage, transportation, and staffing capacity within food rescue organizations – as well as a consistent flow of goods from food business donations.
Scaling Action: Opportunities for Food Waste Solution Providers to Engage with ReFED
October 13, 2021
Learn how you, as a solution provider, can partner with ReFED to reduce food waste.
The Power of a Nudge: Reshaping Consumer Environments to Promote Waste Reduction
September 22, 2021
Consumers are the biggest contributors to food waste, and while each of us can make our own small dent in the problem, we also need foodservice operators, restaurants, and retailers to push us in the right direction.
ReFED and Environmental Defense Fund Launch New Resource to Help Companies Cut Food Waste
September 15, 2021
Climate Corps® Food Waste Fellows are dedicated, third-party experts providing data-driven knowledge that can help advance strategic food waste initiatives.
Donor Profile: The Posner Foundation of Pittsburgh
September 14, 2021
The Posner Foundation of Pittsburgh is one of the leading families that have identified food waste in their philanthropic portfolio due to the environmental impact.
"Following the Roadmap": Reshape Consumer Environments
September 1, 2021
Most food waste is generated at the household level, but it’s frequently due to decisions made by actors throughout the supply chain. Here’s how they can help consumers manage food better.
Rethinking The Concept of “Waste”: New Innovations Bring Value To Surplus Food
August 24, 2021
Finding value in foods or leftovers usually deemed worthless is an exciting and essential strategy for tackling food waste across the supply chain.
Upcycling, Edible Coatings, and Other Solutions to Cut Food Waste By Maximizing Product Utilization
August 12, 2021
Rethinking the concept of “waste” can open new doors for innovation and investment.
Food Waste Reduction Can Help Protect The Planet From The Worst Effects Of Climate Change
August 9, 2021
There is still time to prevent global warming from rising even more – and reducing food waste can have a major impact on the amount of greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere.
"Following the Roadmap": Maximize Product Utilization
August 4, 2021
Rethinking the concept of “waste” can open new doors for innovation and investment – thus finding greater value in items or parts usually deemed worthless.
Overcoming Food Waste Hurdles At The Olympics
August 3, 2021
The COVID-related restrictions implemented this year in Tokyo provide a fascinating experiment that could guide future food waste reduction strategies.
Eliminating The False Choice Between Customer Satisfaction and Food Waste
July 21, 2021
New technology provides data and insights that allow retailers to better forecast what customers will buy and find new ways to sell perishable foods before they end up in the trash.
ReFED and Partners Welcome New Bill to Fight U.S. Food Waste And Build A Better Food System
July 16, 2021
The Zero Food Waste Act would support state, local, and tribal communities making the policy changes and infrastructure investments needed to cut food waste in half by 2030.
Dynamic Pricing and Other Product Management Solutions to Cut Food Waste
July 14, 2021
Artificial intelligence and machine learning can cut waste during product handling – and so can some basic best practices.
"Following the Roadmap": Refine Product Management
July 6, 2021
Ineffective or unsophisticated product management processes and procedures lead to wasted food across the supply chain – implementing solutions to improve management of products can result in an annual net financial benefit of $15.8 billion.
LGBTQIA+ Food Insecurity: The Problem and Organizations that are Helping to Solve It
June 28, 2021
LGBTQIA + Americans are at greater risk of experiencing food insecurity. But a network of organizations are finding ways to help them.
Tracking Food From Farm To Table: New Technology To Ensure Freshness
June 21, 2021
Food’s journey through packing houses, on trucks, and into storage and distribution centers has an enormous impact on its quality, flavor, and whether it ultimately gets eaten or thrown in the trash.
"Following The Roadmap": Enhance Product Distribution
June 9, 2021
Enhancing product distribution means creating smart systems that efficiently move products to maximize freshness – and ultimately selling time.
New Food Waste Action Network Will Help Spur Solution Adoption Across the Food System
May 25, 2021
Join the new ReFED Food Waste Action Network to connect and collaborate with food businesses, funders, subject matter experts, researchers, government agencies, food waste solution providers, and more - ultimately driving action toward our collective goal of reducing U.S. food waste by 50% by 2030.
Food Loss On Farms: How The Drive For Efficiency Builds Waste Into The System
May 19, 2021
A key byproduct of the perfect produce aisle? A vast amount of waste, which taxes environmental resources and drives prices up.
ReFED’s Proposal to Mandate Food Waste Reduction Recognized As Top Idea by The CLEEN Project
May 18, 2021
A proposal by Dana Gunders, ReFED’s Executive Director, was recently voted as The CLEEN Project’s “top 3” ideas to decarbonize the food system and improve public health.
"Following the Roadmap": Optimize The Harvest
May 6, 2021
Optimizing the harvest means aligning what's grown with what's ultimately harvested – and can result in $8 billion of net financial benefit.
Child Nutrition Reauthorization Bill Can Help Curb Food Waste
May 5, 2021
A new report by the Harvard Law School Food Law and Policy Clinic, Natural Resources Defense Council, and ReFED shares 14 recommendations for Congress.
Making An Impact On Stop Food Waste Day
April 27, 2021
The “Food Waste Five” are five easy-to-use strategies that can help you implement a food waste reduction program right in your own home.
An Earth Day Message From ReFED
April 22, 2021
The theme for this year’s Earth Day is “Restore Our Earth,” and it has particular resonance for those connected to the food system – after being battered by the pandemic, the food system needs restoring now more than ever.
Cut Food Waste With These Top Solutions
April 14, 2021
Food waste reduction solutions already exist – and businesses and organizations are figuring out new ways to address the problem every day.
A Call To Action On U.S. Food Loss And Waste Policy
April 6, 2021
ReFED joins The Harvard Law School Food Law and Policy Clinic, Natural Resources Defense Council, and World Wildlife Fund in developing policy recommendations for the Biden administration and Congress.
OP-ED: How Reducing Food Waste Can Help Solve The Climate Crisis
April 5, 2021
An investment of $14 billion a year over the next decade can eliminate 45 million tons of food waste each year. That translates into a reduction of 75 million tons of greenhouse gases – the equivalent of taking 16 million cars off the road each year.
The Kroger Co. Zero Hunger | Zero Waste Foundation Leverages Findings from ReFED's Insights Engine for $2.5M Open Call
March 24, 2021
ReFED’s resources are helping the effort in two primary ways – understanding market trends and measuring impact potential.
Manufacturers’ Association Food Northwest Joins PCC Effort to Cut Food Waste in Half, Underscoring the Need for Action across the Supply Chain
March 23, 2021
Food Northwest’s commitment can help significantly advance progress toward PCC's goal of reducing food waste by 50% by 2030.
PCC Food Waste Reduction Initiative Releases Report Showing 2020 Progress
March 22, 2021
ReFED is a resource partner for the public-private partnership working to create a less wasteful food system – with the goal of making significant reductions in carbon emissions and contributing to the health and economic success of the West Coast region.
ReFED Appears at "Future of Food" Event at SXSW 21
March 16, 2021
What will the future food system look like? How can we ensure that it's sustainable, resilient, and inclusive? ReFED team members join the discussion during a special event series at the annual festival.
Driving Impact with Catalytic Capital
March 9, 2021
Why is catalytic capital so important? Here's how it can smooth the way for additional investment from other capital types.
Fighting Climate Change by Investing in Food Waste Reduction
February 19, 2021
Climate change has already impacted the way we live, how we do business, and more. Fighting it is an existential imperative – and investing in food waste reduction solutions is a core approach for doing so.
Seven Areas for Taking Action to Reduce Food Waste
February 11, 2021
These are the seven areas where the food system must focus its efforts to make a meaningful reduction in the amount of food going to waste across the supply chain.
The Critical Role of Capital in the Fight Against Food Waste
February 3, 2021
Capital providers of all types play an integral role in funding the development and adoption of food waste reduction solutions.
New Data from ReFED Reveals Amount of Food Waste Has Leveled Off After Increasing 11.9% Since 2010
February 2, 2021
While this shows that food waste reduction efforts are starting to make an impact, more needs to be done to achieve the nation's 2030 reduction goal.
Key Findings From The ReFED Insights Engine
February 1, 2021
The Insights Engine is an online data center built from 50 public and proprietary datasets to show a granular analysis of food waste across the U.S. Here's what our analysis found.
How COVID-19 Has Affected Food Waste – and How the Food System Has Responded
February 1, 2021
Initial estimates suggest that the early days of the pandemic saw large increases in food waste – but the long-term result might actually be a decrease.
ReFED Launches $10 Million Fundraising Campaign to Support Food System in Reducing Food Waste by 50% by the Year 2030
November 12, 2020
New campaign highlights the impact of food waste on the climate, food security, and the economy.
The Wonderful Company Launches $1 Million Innovation Challenge
September 28, 2020
ReFED serves as strategic advisor and managing partner for the global contest to discover environmentally-friendly solutions for pomegranate husks.
SPOTLIGHT: ReFED Board of Directors Member Emily Ma
September 22, 2020
An interview with Emily Ma, who leads two early-stage moonshots at X, a stealth group within Alphabet, and who is bringing her passion for food systems and human-centered design to ReFED's Board.
Pacific Coast Collaborative to Lead One of the Largest Public-Private Partnerships to Reduce Food Waste
September 8, 2020
The collaboration – with ReFED as a resource partner – calls on businesses to join a Voluntary Agreement to implement measurable action to cut food waste in half by 2030.
New Guidelines Help Foodservice Businesses Include Food Waste Reduction in their COVID-19 Operating Plans
August 26, 2020
Get the new handout created by ReFED, the James Beard Foundation, LeanPath, Sodexo, and WWF.
New ReFED Report Offers Organizations Across the Food System A Guide For Scaling Food Recovery And Hunger Relief Efforts
July 20, 2020
The report includes best practices, case studies, and expert advice for the entire food system on how to support innovative food recovery organizations as they scale their work to reduce food waste and fight hunger.
A Message From Jesse Fink, ReFED's Inaugural Board Chair
July 15, 2020
"As I finish my tenure as Founding Board Chair, I wanted to express my deepest gratitude for all that you have done and continue to do to accelerate solutions to food waste."
ReFED’s COVID-19 Food Waste Solutions Fund Awards $1M to Organizations Rescuing Food And Delivering it to the Most Vulnerable Communities
June 8, 2020
As the Coronavirus Pandemic Continues to Disrupt the Food System, Much More Funding is Needed for These and Other Front-Line Organizations.
Announcing the ReFED COVID-19 Food Waste Solutions Fund
May 7, 2020
Donate and learn how to apply for funding to advance solutions that prevent or recover food being wasted at the farm level due to COVID-19 disrputions.
Resources to Move Food from Farm to Table during COVID-19
May 6, 2020
Here's a list of resources and organizations helping to reduce the surge of food waste on the farm level due to COVID-19 supply chain disruptions.
How You Can Help: ReFED's Directory of Fundable Initiatives for COVID-19 Support
April 8, 2020
Get details on organizations that need support right now to enact new safety measures, hire more drivers, establish “rapid response” services, conduct direct distribution to those in need, build new partnerships to facilitate their ongoing outreach, and more.
Join our Discussion Series - "Better Together: Food System Best Practices for Navigating COVID-19"
April 8, 2020
ReFED's new weekly discussion series focuses on how to overcome the challenges facing food waste solution providers and food businesses in the age of COVID-19.
ReFED'S COVID-19 U.S. Food System Review
April 6, 2020
Learn more about the changes occurring throughout the U.S. food system as a result of COVID-19.
Food Waste Resources During The COVID-19 Pandemic
March 20, 2020
Here's how you can help ensure that excess food due to COVID-19 reaches the people who need it most.
Announcing ReFED's New Executive Director
March 10, 2020
ReFED is excited to announce that Dana Gunders has become our new Executive Director
Accelerator Expert Network Knowledge Series: Jessica Grace Torres, City Harvest
December 19, 2019
Check out this interview with Jessica Grace Torres, Director of Business Intelligence at City Harvest, to learn more about City Harvest’s technology solutions geared towards alleviating hunger amongst food insecure New Yorkers.
ReFED announces Plentiful as $100,000 Winner of Industry-First Nonprofit Food Recovery Accelerator
December 5, 2019
The three-month program concluded with an in-person Showcase co-hosted by ReFED and Feeding America and a commitment from DoorDash to support food recovery.
Accelerator Expert Network Knowledge Series: Jasmine Crowe, Goodr
December 3, 2019
Check out this interview with Jasmine Crowe, Founder of Goodr, to learn more about how their blockchain-enabled platform and mobile app redirects surplus food from landfills to those in need.
Accelerator Expert Network Knowledge Series: Hannah Koski, Blue Apron
November 27, 2019
Check out this interview with Hannah Koski, Director of Procurement and Sustainability at Blue Apron, to learn how their innovative model reduces household waste and improves access to delicious, fresh and healthy ingredients.
November 2019 Newsletter
November 22, 2019
A Message from the Board of Directors, A Letter from our Inaugural Executive Director, Chris Cochran, Dana Gunders: ReFED’s Interim Executive Director, and Highlights from the 2019 Food Waste Summit, hosted by ReFED
Where Brilliance Converges to Craft Scalable Action: 10 Reasons Why The 2019 Food Waste Summit was the Place to Be
November 21, 2019
The 2019 Food Waste Summit hosted by ReFED championed awareness to action to reduce food waste in half by 2030. Check out the top 10 highlights from the event.
Accelerator Expert Network Knowledge Series: Leah Lizarondo, 412 Food Rescue
November 21, 2019
Check out this interview with Leah Lizarondo, Founder of 412 Food Rescue to learn how to develop a portfolio of initiatives to combat hunger and change behavior around food waste.
Accelerator Expert Network Knowledge Series: Rebeckah Piotrowski, City Harvest
November 14, 2019
In this week's interview, we hear from Rebeckah Piotrowski, Director of Institutional Partnerships at City Harvest to learn more about their mission-aligned partnerships that scale their impact to end hunger in New York.
Morton is Salty About Food Waste
November 7, 2019
A huge thank you to Morton Salt for their support and participation in the 2019 Food Waste Summit hosted by ReFED and their commitment to Erase Food Waste.
Accelerator Expert Network Knowledge Series: Nicole Flewell, Taylor Farms
November 7, 2019
Check out this interview with Nicole Flewell, Director of Sustainability at Taylor Farms, where she delves into the opportunities she sees for nonprofit organizations to bring fresh prepared food to low-income individuals.
Accelerator Expert Network Knowledge Series: Robert Egger, LA Kitchen
October 31, 2019
Check out this interview with Robert Egger, founder of LA Kitchen, DC Central Kitchen and Campus Kitchens Project, who shared lessons learned from years of working on issues of food waste, food insecurity, and workforce development.
ReFED’s Insights Engine: Fueling an Actionable and Data-Driven Path to Fight Food Waste
October 29, 2019
ReFED is pleased to announce that we are launching the ReFED Insights Engine, a digital-first, continuously updated platform to house the next generation of data, insights and guidance on food waste and solutions. Thank you to our seed funders for investing in and partnering on the initial stages of this...
Press Release: ReFED Accelerates Action to Cut Food Waste in Half by 2030 at 2019 Food Waste Summit
October 24, 2019
Today, ReFED, the only U.S. nonprofit wholly dedicated to reducing food waste, announced the annual ReFED Food Waste Summit taking place October 28-30, 2019 at METREON in San Francisco.
Accelerator Expert Network Knowledge Series: Thomas McQuillan, Baldor Specialty Foods
October 24, 2019
Check out this interview with Thomas McQuillan, Vice President of Corporate Strategy, Culture and Sustainability at Baldor Specialty Foods, to learn about his work implementing major sustainability initiatives throughout their foodservice operations.
Accelerator Expert Network Knowledge Series: Kari Armbruster, The Kroger Co.
October 17, 2019
Check out this interview with Kari Armbruster, Zero Hunger | Zero Waste Project Manager at Kroger, to learn about their strategies for ending hunger in Kroger communities and eliminating waste across their company by 2025.
Accelerator Expert Network Knowledge Series: Eric Davis and Justin Block, Feeding America
October 10, 2019
Check out this interview with Eric Davis and Justin Block of Feeding America, where they discuss how they leverage technology and innovation to support their nationwide network of 200 member food banks.
When Innovation Meets Accelerated Knowledge: Championing Human-Centered Design to Create a More Equitable and Impactful Food Recovery System
October 9, 2019
ReFED hosts the first in-person Learning Lab for the Nonprofit Food Recovery Accelerator 2019 cohort in San Francisco, CA.
Accelerator Expert Network Knowledge Series: Nell Fry, Sodexo
October 3, 2019
Check out this interview with Nell Fry, Senior Manager of Sustainability Field Support at Sodexo, where she shares her strategy for reducing waste, carbon and water usage at 13,000 food service sites across North America.
Accelerator Expert Network Knowledge Series: Doug Rauch, Daily Table
September 26, 2019
Check out this interview with Doug Rauch of Daily Table, who applied lessons from his extensive retail career at Trader Joe’s to build an enjoyable shopping experience that promotes dignity and helps low-income customers access nutritious, affordable food.
Accelerator Expert Network Knowledge Series: Bill Reighard, Food Donation Connection
September 19, 2019
Check out this interview with Bill Reighard of Food Donation Connection, who leveraged his industry knowledge overseeing operations at PepsiCo to launch a for-profit food recovery company that has coordinated more than 550m pounds of food over the past 25 years.
ReFED Announces Cohort for Industry-First Nonprofit Food Recovery Accelerator
September 4, 2019
The diverse group of ten food recovery nonprofits come from eight states across the U.S. and range from established food banks to young startups that leverage concepts from the sharing economy for recovering wasted food in a dignified, scalable way.
ReFED Nonprofit Food Recovery Accelerator: Open Call Analytics
August 15, 2019
Over 125 diverse applicants responded to the Open Call for Applications. See some facts about them below.
A Helpful Move on Food Date Labels
June 14, 2019
This blog was co-authored by JoAnne Berkenkamp at NRDC, Katie Sandson and Emily Broad Leib at the Harvard Food Law and Policy Clinic, and Jackie Suggitt at ReFED.
ReFED Launches Nonprofit Accelerator, Funded by Walmart Foundation, to Double U.S. Food Donations
June 11, 2019
Open Call for Applications starts today for the three-month Accelerator that will offer $350,000 in prizes and extensive access to ReFED’s expert network.
New ingredients key to sustainable growth: Earned revenue and technology at food recovery nonprofits
May 17, 2019
In 2018, 81% of Feeding America’s donations were recovered meals, yet this represents only ~5% of the 36 million tons of unsold food inventory generated within the food value chain each year.
ReFED Capital & Innovation Newsletter: November 2018
November 15, 2018
ReFED's quarterly update on the entrepreneurs and investors fighting food waste.
Press Release: ReFED’s 2018 U.S. Food Waste Investment Report Reveals Foundation Funding Reached $134 Million in 2016; VC Funding Reaches $125M in 2018
November 13, 2018
ReFED's 2018 U.S. Food Waste Investment Report details key trends in the capital and innovation landscape and highlights specific examples of philanthropic, public, and private food waste investment, including a Special Report on Foundation Funding.
Goodr and Pulp Pantry Take First Place and Runner Up at ReFED's Food Waste Innovation Demo Day
November 9, 2018
ReFED Hosts First Food Waste Innovation Demo Day at SOCAP, Announces Release of Food Waste Investment Report
ReFED's Innovator Spotlight: Food Forward
October 16, 2018
ReFED interviews Southern California food recovery organization Food Forward to learn how they plan to grow their operations and scale their impact.
Retail, Restaurant, and Foodservice Webinars
August 22, 2018
In these webinars, ReFED hosts grocery, restaurant, and foodservice leaders to discuss insights from the Food Waste Action Guides and the successes they've had implementing food waste solutions.
More Feast, Less Footprint: New Goals & Progress Towards Wasting Less Food
August 9, 2018
Join ReFED and partners for this Global Climate Change Action Summit event exploring the connection between food waste and climate change.
ReFED Capital & Innovation Newsletter: August 2018
August 3, 2018
ReFED's quarterly update on the entrepreneurs and investors fighting food waste.
Great Minds Think Differently: Diverse group at Innovator Workshop accelerates food waste solutions
July 31, 2018
Our takeaways from the U.S. Food Waste Summit Innovator Workshop, which convened food waste innovators, food businesses, funders, and policymakers to shape the future of food waste solutions provision.
ReFED Partners with Harvard Law School Food Law and Policy Clinic to Host 2018 U.S. Food Waste Summit
June 25, 2018
Taking place June 26-27 at Harvard Law School in Cambridge, MA, the Summit will convene more than 300 leaders from across the public, private and nonprofit sectors to accelerate solutions to food waste and achieve the national goal to cut food waste in half by 2030.
Picking up Speed: Food Waste Funders Meet to Fuel Further Impact
May 10, 2018
Last month 16 food waste thought leaders met in an industrial corner of San Francisco to discuss the future of food waste capital and innovation. The event held at the headquarters and warehouse operations of food waste innovator, Imperfect Produce, was organized by Alexandria Coari, Capital & Innovation Director for...
Food Waste Prevention Packaging RFP
May 1, 2018
ReFED is currently accepting proposals to develop a multistakeholder project plan to address food waste prevention packaging. All proposals in response to this RFP are due no later than 11:59pm PST May 16, 2018.
Innovator Workshop at the U.S. Food Waste Summit
March 7, 2018
ReFED is cohosting a free one-day workshop for food waste innovators as part of the U.S. Food Waste Summit. Learn more about the event and apply to attend!
Press Release: ReFED Analysis Uncovers Opportunity to Reduce 16 Million Tons of Food Waste in Foodservice and Restaurant Sectors
February 6, 2018
ReFED collaborated with the four largest foodservice providers, major restaurants, industry trade associations, and more than 60 expert contributors to create the Restaurant and Foodservice Food Waste Action Guides to support businesses in developing and implementing food waste solutions.
Press Release: ReFED Analysis Reveals Food Waste Represents $18.2 Billion Profit Opportunity for Grocery Retailers
January 23, 2018
ReFED collaborated with major grocery retailers, industry trade associations, and more than 30 expert contributors to create the Retail Food Waste Action Guide to support retailers in developing and implementing food waste solutions.
ReFED Newsletter: September 2017
September 12, 2017
This summer has been an exciting time of growth and progress, both for ReFED and in the effort to reduce wasted food at scale. We have developed new programs around food business engagement, capital and innovation, and are growing our team.
Data Driven Procurement for Less Wasted Food
September 11, 2017
Every so often, we unintentionally discover something truly valuable; either as a complete accident (think Penicillin) or as a byproduct of intended actions. It is no coincidence that entrepreneurs addressing inefficiencies at various nodes throughout the food system often end up addressing wasted food. Such is the case with Konstantin...
ReFED Newsletter: May 2017
May 24, 2017
Last month, ReFED launched groundbreaking tools around two of the four Roadmap levers of action: innovation and policy. The Food Waste Innovator Database highlights over 400 innovators who are building new industries to reduce wasted food. The Food Waste Policy Finder identifies leading and lagging state policies that enable or block food waste reduction....
ReFED Innovator Database Webinar
May 16, 2017
This webinar offers an introduction to ReFED's newly launched Innovator Database, along with an overview of current innovation trends.
ReFED Policy Finder Webinar
May 15, 2017
This webinar provides an overview of ReFED's Food Waste Policy Finder, along with key policy insights.
ReFED in the News: Going Digital to Rescue Food
May 2, 2017
This New York Times article describes the bourgeoning digital food recovery solution sector, highlighting ReFED's insights, and several of the innovators included in our Food Waste Innovator Database.
Creating 'taste' from what would be 'waste'
April 30, 2017
ReFED recently connected with Dan Kurzrock, Co-Founder and Executive Grain Officer at ReGrained, to learn about what it takes to make tasty food from beer waste.
How to Unleash the New Food Waste Economy
April 26, 2017
This post was written by Janet Reynolds of FoodFutureCo. Janet Reynolds is FoodFutureCo’s fellow and a co-founder of Waste for Good, a social enterprise building hyper-local networks to connect sustainably-minded food providers to a hub in the community, where food waste is converted into clean energy.
On the Road to Reduction
April 17, 2017
Today, the United States wastes 63 million tons of food annually at a cost of $218 billion. ReFED is working to move the food system from acting on instinct to using insights and collaboration to solve our national food waste problem.
Press Release: New ReFED Innovation and Policy Tools
April 17, 2017
Today, ReFED unveiled two new tools: a database of innovative food waste solutions, and an interactive map that centralizes federal- and state-level food waste policy to assist advocates and policymakers.
Going Barnanas for new ways to use food
April 17, 2017
ReFED recently caught up with Caue Suplicy, Founder and CEO of Barnana, to learn what its like being a pioneer in the 'edible upcycling' industry.
Executive Director Announcement
March 9, 2017
ReFED is pleased to announce its inaugural executive director, Chris Cochran!
ReFED Newsletter: December
December 1, 2016
Winter may be in full swing, but work at ReFED is really heating up! Over the next few months, expect some big announcements, including the launch of two new online tools (additional details below) and the kick-off of our Funder Collaborative. We are beyond excited to lift the curtain on...
The Billion Dollar Food Waste Market Investors Are Missing
November 17, 2016
A collaboration between AgFunder and ReFed, this article aims to highlight some of the technologies working towards reducing food waste globally that are not always associated with the problem.
ReFED Newsletter: November
November 1, 2016
The ReFED team has been hard at work over the last couple months creating new content on the steady increase in entrepreneurs tackling the food waste problem and top trends we're seeing, and releasing recommendations for how foundations can maximize the impact of philanthropic investment in food waste solutions. In...
Halving U.S. Food Waste: from lofty goal to practical reality
September 15, 2016
Most of our food-related stories are about what we eat – but, a year ago tomorrow, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) decided to focus on the food we don’t eat. Together they announced a remarkably ambitious goal of reducing U.S. food waste...
Behind the plate: Eva Fowler
June 27, 2016
Eva Fowler, Associate Director of Programs & Communications at ReFED, is working hard at making #NoFoodWaste a reality on a national level. ReFED has set the Roadmap for decreasing food waste, and it’s time for all of us to jump on board.
The ReFED Roadmap To Reducing Food Waste
June 1, 2016
The Roadmap outlines systems for accomplishing a food waste reduction goal of 20 percent in the near term and 50 percent in the next 15 years. The strategy requires further investment — of time, brainpower and dollars.
ReFED Discusses Food Waste Reduction at SXSW's "Future of Food" Event SXSW Reimagines Sustainable Food, Agriculture, and CPGs For A Changed World
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