Welcome back to the Crazy About Packaging podcast! In our latest episode, we dive into the critical issue of food waste and how packaging can be part of the solution. In this special episode, Natalie, Mike, and Jonathan are joined by Angel Veza, a food waste expert from ReFED, to shed light on the staggering amount of food waste in the U.S. and the innovative solutions being developed to combat the food waste crisis.
You can listen to this conversation on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or our website. Here’s a sneak peek into what we covered in this episode.
Angel Veza is a seasoned expert in food waste reduction, currently serving as a senior manager at ReFED, a nonprofit organization dedicated to ending food waste in the U.S. by advancing data-driven solutions. With a background in both the culinary world and sustainability, Angel brings a unique perspective to the issue of food waste. At ReFED, she leads initiatives that support innovative projects aimed at reducing food waste across the supply chain. Through her work, Angel is driving impactful, data-backed strategies that help businesses, consumers, and policymakers tackle the food waste crisis.
ReFED is a national nonprofit organization with a mission to eliminate food waste across the U.S. by driving actionable, data-driven solutions. Through their comprehensive Insights Engine, a dynamic hub of data, research, and resources, ReFED helps businesses, policymakers, and individuals better understand the root causes and impacts of food waste. The organization works across sectors to advance policies, collaborate with businesses, and provide funding for innovative solutions that address the food waste crisis at every level. Their initiatives, such as the U.S. Food Waste Pact and the Catalytic Grant Fund, are transforming how food is managed along the supply chain, reducing waste and its associated environmental and financial costs. At the core of ReFED’s efforts is the belief that reducing food waste is one of the most effective ways to tackle climate change, save money, and combat food insecurity.
We begin with a shocking statistic: 38% of all food went unsold or uneaten in the U.S. in 2022, amounting to a staggering 88.7 million tons. This is more than wasteful; it also creates a massive financial and environmental impact. “When we throw out food, we’re literally throwing out money,” explains Angel. In fact, this food waste amounts to a cost of $444 billion dollars — 2% of the U.S. GDP — making this an issue that affects everyone.
Not only is food waste a financial burden, but it’s also a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. Uneaten food is responsible for 6% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, and it has impacts throughout the supply chain. Making this food takes time and effort, taking up cropland and fresh water — only to become one of the top materials entering landfills. Angel paints a vivid picture: “Imagine if all of our surplus food that goes uneaten was grown in one place. It would be this mega farm that’s the size of California and New York combined. And then growing the food on this farm would consume 22% of the nation’s freshwater, which could fill California's major reservoirs three times. And then that food that's grown on the farm would fill a 40 ton tractor every 15 seconds all year long.” An enormous amount of time, energy, and resources goes into growing these crops (not to mention shipping and refrigeration!), only to go to waste in the long run.
Packaging plays a complex role in the food waste problem. While some poorly designed packaging can contribute to spoilage, Angel emphasizes that packaging is not the villain. In fact, innovative packaging solutions like barrier packaging that extends shelf life can be part of the answer. The team also explores how smart design choices, like resealable packaging and smaller portion sizes, can help reduce waste at the consumer level.
One surprising insight from this episode is the confusion surrounding date labels. Did you know there is no federal regulation on date labels? This can lead to a lot of misunderstandings: does the date on your food packaging mean “best by” or “eat by”? When does food actually spoil? This confusion leads to perfectly good food being tossed. Better clarity around expiration dates and storage instructions could help consumers waste less and feel more confident in the safety of their food.
Angel shares some exciting innovations on the horizon, from sensors that detect food spoilage in real time to packaging that uses temperature-sensitive technology to indicate freshness. These cutting-edge solutions could help both consumers and businesses reduce waste and save money. She continually reiterates the importance of multiple innovations and strategies to combat food waste. “It’s not going to be one thing that solves the problem,” says Angel, “It’s going to be multiple innovations working together.”
Packaging providers like ICPG are focused on creating solutions that not only protect food but also contribute to sustainability. From improved recyclability to extended shelf life, these innovations are tackling food waste from multiple angles. After all, sustainability isn’t just about recycling — it's about making sure food isn’t wasted in the first place.
Thank you for joining us for this crucial discussion on the Crazy About Packaging podcast. Reducing food waste is a big challenge, but through collaboration and innovation, we can all make a difference.
You can listen to the full episode on our website, Spotify, or Apple. To take part in the conversation, follow us on X, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram. Let’s continue to get crazy about packaging and find solutions to the challenges our world faces today!