130. Here’s A Better Way to Axe Food Waste (Hint: It’s Not Composting!) with Andrew Shakman

Many of us are conscientiously making new habits to help with the problem of climate change: recycling, making greener purchasing choices, or reducing our carbon footprint.  But did you know there is a solution well underway that can reduce 13% of greenhouse gasses if the food industry made one commitment? Yes, our guest today—Andrew Shakman—is tackling (and winning against) one problem: food waste. And this one problem that we know how to solve in a fascinating, completely new way. Hint: it is not about more composting! (00:00- 04:30) OPENING (04:31- 14:20) Food waste is the “elephant’ in the kitchen We want to have a great, hospitable experience, and as a result of that we tend to do things that are really unbalanced and that lead to a lot of food waste Food waste is the third largest cause of greenhouse gases 30-40% of food that we produce, we waste The opportunity of less food waste The hierarchy of food waste We tend to gravitate towards the things that are tangible and we can see Prevention is at the top of the hierarchy The stats of food waste (14:21- 17:08) BREAK (17:09- 26:20) The Leanpath journey Kitchen as a factory “When you measure something, you manage it. And when you measure something, it improves.” “People do what you inspect, not what you expect.” Hardware solutions Leanpath provides tools and support services The change maker in food waste (26:21- 40:20) The food waste myths Composting Research of Ohio State Prof. Brian Roe Donation Leapath operates in large scale food operation Tons of Citrus peels  We don’t have all the answers on how to solve these problems, the chefs and the frontline teams have it Upstate New York hospital Leanpath is an Earthshot Prize nominee Earthshot Prize “Remember the future” (40:21- 53:40) Andrew’s story and how it mattered in the end The power of narrative to drive change The web (1994) 20th Century Fox Internet Business Tech and food were in my context but I’m not sure what it was going to be The 7 or 8 years of Leanpath was horrible Telling stories to drive change Kitchen is the theater of measurement... When we measure, it creates consciousness Bringing the horizon in is about holding ourselves accountable to making the change in the short term not just the long term Food waste is one of the most actionable things Methane in food waste Limiting beliefs Every Woman Coalition (53:41- 01:00:07) I want people to know how harmful food waste is to people and planet It is not just okay to waste food Waste-Free Kitchen Handbook ReFED (01:00:08- 01:00:34) CLOSING