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","datePublished":"2021-03-17","dateModified":"2025-05-06","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/contributor\/abadesi-osunsade\/#Person","name":"Abadesi Osunsade","url":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/contributor\/abadesi-osunsade\/","identifier":492,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/787c132c230ebcc4638cb29423005140c76fc7675f606f5d6d9909191c375833?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/787c132c230ebcc4638cb29423005140c76fc7675f606f5d6d9909191c375833?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"The Future of Commerce","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/logo-foc-schema-app-1.png","url":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/logo-foc-schema-app-1.png","width":172,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/HXM012_FoodSustainability_HB.jpg","url":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/HXM012_FoodSustainability_HB.jpg","height":375,"width":1200},"url":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2021\/03\/17\/food-sustainability\/","video":{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"VideoObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=09BUMtvOF6s#VideoObject","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=09BUMtvOF6s","name":"Blank Canvas Series - Introduction","description":"#BlankCanvas http:\/\/sap.to\/6057HZjkc  Blank Canvas is a newly created SAP Original Series, designed to explore the impact of \u201cThe Passionates\u201d \u2013 a growing group of consumers identified in a recent SAP study, who make purchase decisions and actively support companies that speak up about socioeconomic and environmental issues. \n \nThe 3-part pilot series covers the topics of fashion and sustainability, food and zero waste, and sports and social impact. Blank Canvas is hosted by NYT best-selling author, Emmy nominated storyteller, and activist Baratunde Thurston, who investigates with data-driven content, shares customer stories and points of view from influential experts, and speaks with SAP brand partners (including the NBA, Karlie Kloss, and Cameron Champ). \n\nWatch all 3 episodes of #BlankCanvas on SAP Insights and please subscribe and share your feedback -  http:\/\/sap.to\/6057HZjkc","thumbnailUrl":["https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/09BUMtvOF6s\/default.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/09BUMtvOF6s\/mqdefault.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/09BUMtvOF6s\/hqdefault.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/09BUMtvOF6s\/sddefault.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/09BUMtvOF6s\/maxresdefault.jpg"],"uploadDate":"2021-02-02T13:35:06+00:00","duration":"PT1M26S","embedUrl":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/09BUMtvOF6s","publisher":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCVnIv2xF2wyMMCSKv1qF3pA#Organization","url":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCVnIv2xF2wyMMCSKv1qF3pA","name":"SAP","description":"At SAP, our vision is to bring out the best in every business. 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We appreciate your understanding and contribution to a respectful community.\n","logo":{"url":"https:\/\/yt3.ggpht.com\/nYOjW1G2IQWESZDA5AsNAFuZKxk2vg0VRq3GHTw4xr9SdeR9c_aV17Hfx4UNu8iU0nvB8dLaMOI=s800-c-k-c0x00ffffff-no-rj","width":800,"height":800,"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=09BUMtvOF6s#VideoObject_publisher_logo_ImageObject"}},"potentialAction":{"@type":"SeekToAction","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=09BUMtvOF6s#VideoObject_potentialAction","target":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=09BUMtvOF6s&t={seek_to_second_number}","startOffset-input":"required name=seek_to_second_number"},"interactionStatistic":[[{"@type":"InteractionCounter","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=09BUMtvOF6s#VideoObject_interactionStatistic_WatchAction","interactionType":{"@type":"WatchAction"},"userInteractionCount":6179}],{"@type":"InteractionCounter","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=09BUMtvOF6s#VideoObject_interactionStatistic_LikeAction","interactionType":{"@type":"LikeAction"},"userInteractionCount":47}]},"about":["Agribusiness",{"@type":"Thing","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/commerce\/intelligent-enterprise\/","name":"Intelligent Enterprise","sameAs":["https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Intelligent_enterprise","http:\/\/www.wikidata.org\/entity\/Q6044119"]},{"@type":"Thing","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/purpose\/","name":"Purpose","sameAs":["https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Purpose"]},{"@type":"Thing","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/purpose\/purpose-general\/","name":"Purpose","sameAs":["https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Purpose"]},{"@type":"Thing","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/commerce\/sustainability\/","name":"Sustainability","sameAs":["https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sustainability","http:\/\/www.wikidata.org\/entity\/Q219416"]},{"@type":"Thing","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/sustainability-in-business\/","name":"Sustainability in Business","sameAs":["https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sustainable_business"]}],"wordCount":1075,"keywords":["Food and Beverage Industry","Food Retail","Sustainability"],"articleBody":"During the pandemic, I’ve ordered more take-out food than I\u2019d like to admit. As I loaded the plastic containers into the recycling bin, I thought I was being a responsible consumer helping to support food sustainability.Then I found out that only 9% of all plastics are recycled. And the plastics that aren\u2019t recycled take 450 years to break down in landfill. Wow.It\u2019s clear that the food and beverage industry has a huge role to play in the sustainability so valued by the Passionates, people who work for and do business with the companies that share their personal values on social issues.For example, did you know that 40% of all plastics are produced for food and beverage packaging? Food production contributes to 26% of global carbon emissions, and it accounts for 26% of total water consumption. As Blank Canvas host Baratunde Thurston says, those are some \u201cnasty\u201d numbers.Food sustainability: The taste of environmental & social justiceThat\u2019s why our most recent Blank Canvas\u00a0after-party focused on sustainability in the food and beverage industry. Joining me were Sabrina Medora, a food writer, editor, and speaker, and Rob Rubba, a chef and sustainability advocate whose latest restaurant in embodies the sustainability ethos.I asked my guests why people should be concerned about food sustainability, and the answers were stunning.\u201cWe know that 1.3 billion tons of food go to waste every year,\u201d says Medora, which equates to approximately 30% of the food produced. \u201cAnother shocking number is that 690 million people go hungry every year. We are starting to see a movement \u2013 from local consumers to big brands \u2013 of being more mindful of how we use our resources, not just from a climate point of view but also from the point of view of our fellow humans.\u201d      Where purpose, passion, and influence meet: Blank Canvas After Parties                Blank Canvas is an SAP original series hosted by Baratunde Thurston. Blank Canvas After Parties are where purpose and passion meet on Twitter.      It\u2019s a big problem that demands more aggressive, innovative solutions. \u201cWe use so many resources to create food,\u201d explains Rubba. \u201cAnd we\u2019re overbuying without being conscious of what we have. On top of that, we have people essentially starving or living in food deserts. As a society, we have enough food to feed each other, but we\u2019re not doing that. We need to come together with better ideas.\u201dFood sustainability in the restaurant industry\u00a0Some restaurant industry leaders have accepted the mantle. Before opening his latest eatery, Rubba focused on reducing waste \u2013 including every ingredient, from start to finish. \u201cNothing goes into the bin without us considering whether it has another purpose or if it can be up-cycled,\u201d he says.Rubba had nearly eliminated plastics from his operation when the pandemic began. \u201cWe thought we had it all figured out and then we had to switch to takeout,\u201d he remembers. \u201cWe did a lot of research to find takeout packaging that would fit our ethos, ultimately choosing containers made from sugarcane and compostable materials.\u201dNow the restaurant avoids all single-use plastics, choosing instead to employ high-quality lidded containers for every product in its operations. Processes such as sous vide, where plastic-wrapped food is cooked in water, have been eliminated from the repertoire. And the changes extend from farm to table.      Not just on World Environment Day, but every day: Opt in to beat plastic                This week marks the celebration of World Environment Day, and the necessity to get our global community supporting this initiative daily is more prevalent than ever.      Local farmers deliver produce in a container, which is then unloaded into one of the restaurant\u2019s containers in the walk-in refrigerator. Reusing the containers reduces the number of plastic bags and cardboard boxes that would otherwise be recycled or end up in landfill. Farmers are on board, because the practice means less packaging and lower costs for them.Making these changes isn\u2019t financially burdensome \u2013 as little as an additional three cents per package. \u201cWhen you think about these containers sitting in a landfill for 450 years, the cost of that package doesn\u2019t matter anymore,\u201d says Rubba. \u201cNot if we take ourselves out of the equation and think about the future.\u201dDon’t toss it: How consumers can helpConsumers have a role to play in food sustainability, too. Think about the contents of your refrigerator \u2013 and how much food you toss before it using it.\u201cI recently read that the average household throws away about $1,500 a year in food,\u201d says Medora. \u201cSimple steps like organizing foods, purchasing groceries mindfully, meal planning, and learning how to use ingredients in multiple ways can help. I was inspired by chefs like Rob who showed how to make pesto from the greens of carrot tops, instead of throwing them away.\u201dRegrowing green onions by placing the root ends in water is a fun way to have fresh herbs, save money, and be more sustainable in your own home.      Green rules the runway: How to make fashion more sustainable in 3 steps                Consumers can make fashion more sustainable by becoming conscious consumers who reuse and resell clothes instead of tossing them.      Medora invested in plastic bins designed to keep produce fresh for longer. \u201cTwo weeks later, I cannot believe I\u2019m still enjoying this produce,\u201d she says. \u201cI didn\u2019t have to buy more and I didn\u2019t throw anything away.\u201dMedora also spent some time reorganizing her refrigerator so that goods were stored where they make the most sense \u2013 and are most easily seen and accessed. Next, she\u2019s researching favorite products to ensure their packaging is compostable or recyclable.\u201cTake it one step at a time,\u201d she advises. \u201cNo consumer will ever be perfect, but every little thing you do adds up.\u201dA healthy appetite for changeWhat\u2019s more, consumers can drive change through their purchases. \u201cBrands are relying on their websites and social media to tell the sustainability story of their products,\u201d says Medora. \u201cIf you have a brand you love, follow them and see what they have to say.\u201dIf your brand isn\u2019t talking about sustainability, ask why. \u201cWe should gravitate toward the brands focused on sustainability,\u201d she adds. \u201cThe more we choose to spend money with those brands, the more other companies will follow suit. Every company wants to go where the money is.\u201d  Giants don’t leave (carbon) footprints.Future-proof your business \u2013and the world.Get your free trial\u00a0HERE."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"2021","item":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2021\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"03","item":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2021\/\/03\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"17","item":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2021\/\/03\/\/17\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"name":"The growing hunger for greater food sustainability","item":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2021\/03\/17\/food-sustainability\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]