Resources and Guides
A New Resource for Taking Action
Roadmap to 2030
Food waste is a systemwide problem, and solving it will require a systemwide response. Our Roadmap to 2030: Reducing U.S. Food Waste by 50% looks at the entire food supply chain and identifies seven key action areas to help guide the food system’s efforts over the next ten years. In line with the "Target-Measure-Act" framework for food waste reduction that’s been adopted around the world, the Roadmap to 2030 is a critical blueprint to help the food system take action. View the entire report on this website or download our "at-a-glance" version with key highlights.
Your Source for Data and Solutions:
ReFED's Insights Engine
The Insights Engine is an online hub for data and insights about food waste built from more than 50 public and proprietary datasets, plus estimates and information from academic studies, industry papers, case studies, and expert interviews; a detailed financial analysis of more than 40 food waste reduction solutions; a directory of organizations ready to partner on food waste reduction initiatives; and more. With more granular data, more extensive analyses, more customized views, and the most up-to-date information, the Insights Engine can provide anyone interested in food waste reduction with the information they need to take meaningful action.
Our Food Waste Tools:
Food Waste Monitor:
Find out how much food is being wasted in the U.S., learn why it's happening, and see where it goes.
Solutions Database:
Learn which food waste reduction solutions are the most relevant and impactful for meeting specific goals.
Solution Provider Directory:
Explore our database of 700+ organizations offering products and services to help you reduce food waste.
Impact Calculator:
Quantify the climate, natural resource, and food security impacts of wasted food.
Investment Tracker:
Identify food waste investment and grant-giving trends over time.
Policy Tracker:
Monitor current and upcoming food waste-related policies at the federal, state, and municipal levels.
Reports & Action Guides
2020 Annual Report
Like many organizations, much of our 2020 work focused on COVID-19 — from helping the food system understand the scope of its impact, to sharing insights about how businesses could reopen and operate safely, and connecting innovators with funding to scale their food waste reduction and hunger relief initiatives. This report highlights that work, as well as other milestones we achieved throughout the year.
2020 Annual Report
Explore our 2020 Annual Report. Like many organizations, much of our 2020 work focused on COVID-19 — from helping the food system understand the scope of its impact, to sharing insights about how businesses could reopen and operate safely, and connecting innovators with funding to scale their food waste reduction and hunger relief initiatives. This report highlights that work, as well as other milestones we achieved throughout the year.
2020 Annual ReportThe 2016 Roadmap to Reduce U.S. Food Waste by 20 Percent
The Roadmap to Reduce U.S. Food Waste by 20 Percent is the first ever national economic study and action plan to reduce food waste at scale. It identifies the most cost-effective solutions and defines research priorities in an effort to spur multi-stakeholder action.
2016 Roadmap to Reduce U.S. Food Waste by 20 Percent Full Report 2016 Roadmap to Reduce U.S. Food Waste by 20 Percent Executive Summary 2016 Roadmap to Reduce U.S. Food Waste by 20 Percent Technical AppendixQuantis Greenhouse Gas Emissions of Food Waste Methodology
Read the methodology used to quantify the greenhouse gas footprint of food production and surplus disposal for dozens of food categories, tailored to the U.S. market.
Quantis Greenhouse Gas Emissions of Food Waste MethodologyU.S. Grocery Retail Dollar-to-Weight Conversion Factors
This report describes the methodology used to quantify U.S. grocery retail food prices per pound at the department and category levels. ReFED has developed this dataset with data from Nielsen.
U.S. Grocery Retail Dollar-to-Weight Conversion FactorsU.S. Grocery Retail Food Inedible Parts Factors
This report describes the methodology used to quantify the weight proportion of U.S. grocery food items that are inedible parts (e.g., bones, cores, peels) as opposed to the part of a food item that is intended for human consumption. Numbers are summarized at the food department and category levels. ReFED has developed this dataset with data from Nielsen combined with USDA inedible parts percentages as documented in the Appendix.
U.S. Grocery Retail Food Inedible Parts FactorsU.S. Grocery Retail Food Packaging to Product Ratios
This report provides U.S. grocery retail food packaging to product ratios at the department and category levels and describes the methodology used to do so. ReFED has developed this dataset with data from Nielsen combined with packaging weights obtained from primary research as documented in the Appendix
U.S. Grocery Retail Food Packaging to Product RatiosRestaurant & Food Service Reopening Guidelines
Restaurants and other foodservice businesses have been hit hard by COVID-19, and many still don’t know when they’ll be able to reopen completely – or at all. These guidelines can help you add food waste reduction procedures into your reopening and post-COVID operational plans.
Restaurant & Food Service Reopening GuidelinesScaling Food Recovery and Hunger Relief: Learnings from ReFED’s Nonprofit Food Recovery Accelerator
Our new report offers guidance to the entire food system on how to support innovative food recovery organizations as they scale their work to reduce food waste and fight hunger. Includes best practices, case studies, and expert insights from a network of world-class food business and technology executives, capital providers, innovators, and subject matter experts.
Scaling Food Recovery and Hunger Relief: Learnings from ReFED’s Nonprofit Food Recovery Accelerator2019 Annual Report
2019 marked the transition from awareness to action. Check out ReFED’s 2019 Annual Report below to discover our history, what milestones we achieved, and what our 2020 objectives are.
2019 Annual ReportAccelerator Expert Network Knowledge Series: Jessica Grace Torres, City Harvest
Check out this interview with Jessica Grace Torres, Director of Business Intelligence at City Harvest, to learn more about City Harvest’s technology solutions geared towards alleviating hunger amongst food insecure New Yorkers.
Accelerator Expert Network Knowledge Series: Jessica Grace Torres, City HarvestAccelerator Expert Network Knowledge Series: Jasmine Crowe, Goodr
In this week's interview, we hear from Jasmine Crowe, Founder of Goodr, to learn about how this innovative platform combines blockchain technology with a desire to reduce food waste.
Accelerator Expert Network Knowledge Series: Jasmine Crowe, GoodrAccelerator Expert Network Knowledge Series: Hannah Koski, Blue Apron
Check out this interview with Hannah Koski, Director of Procurement and Sustainability at Blue Apron, to learn about how their innovative model reduces household waste and improves access to delicious fresh and healthy ingredients.
Accelerator Expert Network Knowledge Series: Hannah Koski, Blue ApronAccelerator Expert Network Knowledge Series: Leah Lizarondo, 412 Food Rescue
Check out this interview with Leah Lizarondo, Founder of 412 Food Rescue to learn how to develop a portfolio of initiatives to combat hunger and change behavior around food waste.
Accelerator Expert Network Knowledge Series: Leah Lizarondo, 412 Food RescueAccelerator Expert Network Knowledge Series: Rebeckah Piotrowski, City Harvest
In this week's interview, we hear from Rebeckah Piotrowski, Director of Institutional Partnerships at City Harvest to learn more about their mission-aligned partnerships that scale their impact to end hunger in New York.
Accelerator Expert Network Knowledge Series: Rebeckah Piotrowski, City HarvestAccelerator Expert Network Knowledge Series: Nicole Flewell, Taylor Farms
Check out this interview with Nicole Flewell, Director of Sustainability at Taylor Farms, where she delves into the opportunities she sees for nonprofit organizations to bring fresh prepared food to low-income individuals.
Accelerator Expert Network Knowledge Series: Nicole Flewell, Taylor FarmsAccelerator Expert Network Knowledge Series: Robert Egger, LA Kitchen
Check out this interview with Robert Egger, founder of LA Kitchen, DC Central Kitchen and Campus Kitchens Project, who shared lessons learned from years of working on issues of food waste, food insecurity, and workforce development.
Accelerator Expert Network Knowledge Series: Robert Egger, LA KitchenAccelerator Expert Network Knowledge Series: Thomas Mcquillan, Baldor Specialty Foods
Check out this interview with Thomas McQuillan, Vice President of Corporate Strategy, Culture and Sustainability at Baldor Specialty Foods, to learn about his work implementing major sustainability initiatives throughout their foodservice operations.
Accelerator Expert Network Knowledge Series: Thomas Mcquillan, Baldor Specialty FoodsAccelerator Expert Network Knowledge Series: Kari Armbruster, The Kroger Co.
Check out this interview with Kari Armbruster, Zero Hunger | Zero Waste Project Manager at Kroger, to learn about their strategies for ending hunger in Kroger communities and eliminating waste across their company by 2025.
Accelerator Expert Network Knowledge Series: Kari Armbruster, The Kroger Co.Accelerator Expert Network Knowledge Series: Eric Davis And Justin Block, Feeding America
Check out this interview with Eric Davis and Justin Block of Feeding America, where they discuss how they leverage technology and innovation to support their nationwide network of 200 member food banks.
Accelerator Expert Network Knowledge Series: Eric Davis And Justin Block, Feeding AmericaAccelerator Expert Network Knowledge Series: Nell Fry, Sodexo
Check out this interview with Nell Fry, Senior Manager of Sustainability Field Support at Sodexo, where she shares her strategy for reducing waste, carbon and water usage at 13,000 sites across North America.
Accelerator Expert Network Knowledge Series: Nell Fry, SodexoAccelerator Expert Network Knowledge Series: Doug Rauch, Daily Table
Check out this interview with Doug Rauch of Daily Table, who applied lessons from his extensive retail career at Trader Joe’s to build an enjoyable shopping experience that promotes dignity and helps low-income customers access nutritious, affordable food.
Accelerator Expert Network Knowledge Series: Doug Rauch, Daily Table'Accelerator Expert Network Knowledge Series: Bill Reighard, Food Donation Connection'
Check out this interview with Bill Reighard of Food Donation Connection, who leveraged his industry knowledge overseeing operations at PepsiCo to launch a for-profit food recovery company that has coordinated more than 550m pounds of food.
Accelerator Expert Network Knowledge Series: Bill Reighard, Food Donation Connection2018 U.S. Food Waste Investment Report
The 2018 U.S. Food Waste Investment Report details key trends in the capital and innovation landscape and highlights specific examples of philanthropic, public, and private food waste investment, including a Special Report on Foundation Funding.
2018 U.S Food Waste Investment Report 2018 U.S Food Waste Investment Report Technical AppendixRetail Food Waste Action Guide
Produced in partnership with leading grocery retailers and trade associations, this guide is designed to help retailers develop and implement food waste solutions.
Retail Food Waste Action GuideFoundation Action Guide
Philanthropic support is critical to the successful implementation of Roadmap solutions. This guide demonstrates how food waste initiatives enable foundations to achieve mission objectives, and provides key insights to help funders maximize their impact.
Foundation Action GuideRestaurant Food Waste Action Guide
Produced in partnership with leading restaurants and trade associations, this guide is designed to help restaurants develop and implement food waste solutions.
Restaurant Food Waste Action GuideFoodservice Food Waste Action Guide
Produced in partnership with the four largest U.S. foodservice providers and trade associations, this guide is designed to help foodservice providers develop and implement food waste solutions.
Foodservice Food Waste Action GuideExternal Resources
Save the Food is a national public service campaign to combat food waste developed in partnership between the Ad Council & the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC).
See MoreA fun and easy to understand 20-minute segment describing the causes and problems of food waste.
See MoreAn overview report on the causes of food waste in the United States.
See MoreThe Food Loss & Waste Protocol (FLW Protocol) is a multi-stakeholder effort to develop the global accounting and reporting standard for quantifying food loss and waste.
See MoreThe Food Waste Reduction Alliance (FWRA) is a collaborative effort of the Grocery Manufacturers Association, the Food Marketing Institute, and the National Restaurant Association. The FWRA’s mission is to reduce the volume of food waste sent to landfill by addressing the root causes of waste and by securing pathways to donate or recycle unavoidable food waste.
See MoreOrganizations that take part in EPA’s Food Recovery Challenge pledge to improve their sustainable food management practices and report their results.
See MorePublished since 1960, BioCycle is the go-to magazine and website on composting, organics recycling, anaerobic digestion, and renewable energy.
See MoreComprehensive source prevention, recovery, and recycling assistance for businesses and institutions. The information is specific to Massachusetts, but much of it is applicable to other states and regions.
See MoreThe FAO is collaborating with donors, bi- and multi-lateral agencies, and financial institutions and private sector partners (the food packaging industry and others) to develop and implement a program on food loss and waste reduction.
See More