According to Feeding America, 52 billion pounds of food from United States manufacturers, grocery stores and restaurants with a worth of $218 billion end us in landfills. Though this is a mere fraction of the waste generated by consumers, who are responsible for close to 85%, it’s still substantial. The FDA estimates that “between 30-40 percent” of food in the United States is wasted.
What Are The Solutions?
According to the published report, Messy but Worth It: Lessons Learned from Fighting Food Waste, there are certain strategies presented that could potentially reduce waste. Among the suggestions are education within the organization, deciding to work with a nonprofit partner who can donate the food and creating a way to measure the waste.
It Will Also Help Your Bottom Line
According to Strategy+business, many food companies that “invested in measures to reduce food waste saw at least a 14-fold return on those investments.”
OU’s Giving Program
Rabbi Menachem Genack (left) and Rabbi Moshe Elefant of the Orthodox Union
(photo credit: HOWARD BLAS)
Conclusion
The Orthodox Union has a system in place to support local communities. It’s the Kosher Food Lifeline: Food Availability COVID-19 Network. Companies need only fill out an online form and the information is instantly transmitted. It’s one corporate option of attacking food waste that will enormously help Americans who are vulnerable due to the coronavirus.