Episode
103

Leftover Food and Net Zero with Robert Lee

November 1, 2023
|
Duration:
1318868
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In This Episode:

Join David Arkell, John Pooley, Lysandra Naom, and guest Robert Lee, Co-founder & CEO at Rescuing Leftover Cuisine, on an episode all about leftover food and net zero! This episode features what leftover food is, the impact on carbon emissions, benefits in redistributing excess food, and more. Check out Rescuing Leftover Cuisine here: https://www.rescuingleftovercuisine.org. Check out our 360 Carbon Excellence Program.

Highlights

  • Definition and Sources of Leftover Food:
    Leftover food arises across multiple levels, from farms to supermarkets to homes, due to factors such as appearance standards and over-ordering.
  • Causes of Food Waste in Developed and Developing Nations:
    In developed countries, consumers contribute most to food waste, whereas, in developing nations, lack of infrastructure, like cold storage, contributes significantly to waste.
  • Food Waste Solutions and EPA Hierarchy:
    Solutions include reducing production, feeding people and animals, and composting. Lee highlights prevention as the most effective approach, followed by food rescue to reduce waste.
  • Environmental and Carbon Impact of Food Waste:
    When left in landfills, food decomposes anaerobically, producing methane, a greenhouse gas more harmful than CO₂.
  • Carbon Tracking in Food Rescue:
    Rescuing Leftover Cuisine uses EPA data to estimate the CO₂ reduction from food saved, though the full environmental benefit includes avoiding methane emissions.
  • Key Insights

  • Food Waste as a Major Emission Source:
    Globally, if food waste were a country, it would rank third in carbon emissions after the United States and China, underscoring the climate impact of wasted food.
  • Moral and Resource Implications of Food Waste:
    Beyond carbon emissions, food waste involves ethical issues, like the unnecessary slaughter of animals, and stresses natural resources needed for production.
  • Consumer Role in Food Waste Reduction:
    Individuals have an opportunity, through daily decisions, to impact food waste and reduce carbon emissions, highlighting the power of small, personal actions.
  • Role of Data in Sustainability Reporting:
    Companies and organizations involved in food rescue are beginning to track and report on carbon savings to encourage accountability and transparency.
  • Challenges in Measuring Full Impact:
    While rescuing food prevents methane production in landfills, quantifying the total resource savings remains complex, with more research needed for accurate carbon impact reporting.
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