It’s not news that food loss and waste is an urgent challenge. We’ve known for some time that around one-third of the world’s food goes uneaten, even as more than 820 million people don’t have enough to eat. We’ve also known that food loss and waste accounts for 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions and costs the global economy nearly $1 trillion every year.
But, with challenges come opportunities, and reducing the amount of food that goes to waste is an important opportunity for companies wanting to build sustainable businesses. It’s a particular opportunity for food manufacturers and cold chain companies that can help ensure more food makes it from farm to plate. Cold chain technology is increasingly helping cut food losses worldwide, which in turn helps farmers earn income. And, new innovations closer to the consumer side of the chain, such as better packaging for refrigerated perishable food that shows when food is getting close to spoilage, can help consumers waste less food at home.