Huge news in the world of food waste: A new study out of the Univ. of Texas at Austin finds that the food America wastes represents about 2 percent of our total energy output. And, as the study’s authors note, it’s a conservative estimate because they use the 1995 estimate of 27 percent waste.
New Scientist [...]

I came across this brief piece on Doug Rauch, the former Trader Joe’s head who is now at Harvard strategizing on how to end food waste.
It’s the first I hear about it, but I was excited to hear that someone with that much industry know-how is studying the issue. I’m curious to hear what his strategies [...]

Huge news from Arkansas–Walmart just announced it would donate a whopping $2 billion in food and cash to help the hungry.
That total includes $1.75 billion of in-kind food donations that presumably are slightly blemished items and foods nearing or at their sell-by date.
Given the retailer’s size–4,300 U.S. outlets (including Sam’s Clubs)–when Walmart acts, it’s on [...]

Don’t look now, but they’re at it again in the UK. On Thursday, WRAP announced an extension of an existing voluntary agreement to reduce packaging and food waste.
As of Thursday’s launch, 29 food retailers and producers had signed on to the second installment of the Courtauld Commitment. The first was signed in 2005 and involved more [...]

The other day, I came across this fascinating Food Waste Factbook from Morrisonswhile researching British supermarkets’ response to food waste for my book.
After reading through the handbook, I was impressed by the retail chain’s commitment to reducing waste in their stores. Heck, just putting out a 15-page document would put them atop the heap amongst American grocers. They even have an [...]

First BOGOFL, then lagom. Am I going insane? Possibly, but these aren’t indications of that, just ideas from the world of food waste reduction.
To follow up on the Buy One Get One Free-Later idea, a poorly-worded survey found that 58 percent believe the ability to get the free item later would reduce supermarket waste. But…the idea is aimed at [...]

I tweeted about this, but it deserves a quick post, too. Behold:
UK retailer Tesco will soon offer Buy One Get One Free–Later. The shift comes in the name of Avoiding household waste with foods like produce and dairy items.
When the 2-for-1 promotion is with perishable items, shoppers will receive a voucher for the free item to be [...]

I’ve been somewhat critical of Whole Foods on certain topics, so here’s an opportunity to give credit where credit’s due.
The other night I went there for a few slices of pizza, mostly because it was on sale for half-price during September. I hadn’t realized it, but it was pretty late.
I became aware of that fact [...]

Great news from Maine: In her Diner’s Journal blog, Julia Moskin wrote about a local grocer that finds a way to use up most of what it stocks. Oh, those frugal Mainers!
Moskin’s reported details on Rosemont Markets, a kind of outtake from her piece on Portland’s food scene, seem so obvious in hindsight:
When the local concord grapes [...]

Who says technology and food waste avoidance don’t mix? That combination works quite well–just ask LeanPath.
Which brings us to RFID tags, a microchip with an antenna that transmits information wirelessly to a reader. These tags are are now being used in Europe to track pallets’ progress through the “cool chain.” A Dutch company, a German retailer and a [...]