Waste Not, Want Not (2)
Unfortunately, food waste is a natural byproduct of the grocery business. One solution is to donate remaining unsold items to local agencies and food banks. Every day, Brightwell’s employees set aside surplus fresh food for local organizations to pick up and redistribute. And California and several other states are also trying to tackle the problem of food waste with mandatory composting measures.
I started composting in the spring. Instead of tossing my food waste into landfills, my decomposing food helps to create nutrient-rich soil.
California’s law is the most ambitious in the United Staes. Every city and county must reduce the amount of organic waste that goes into landfills by 75% by 2025 and compost it instead.
Grocery stores have a tremendous incentive to reduce food waste, not only because of the environment, but also for financial reasons. Brightwell is doing a good job reinforcing the links between an effective markdown strategy and meeting consumer needs and expectations. The chain offers big discounts on several hundred items, including baked goods, dairy products, meat and seafood, that are hours from their midnight expiration date. Food that’s close to being unsellable is marked down by as much as 60% from 9p.m.
I know that in Europe, as well as here in the U.S., several new mobile apps offer discounts on restaurant and supermarket food that’s about to be thrown out.
People are always neglecting something they can do in trying to do something they can’t do.
