Food waste is an enormous global issue. In the U.S. alone, around 38% of all food goes uneaten, amounting to over 130 billion pounds of waste each year. This food waste is the largest contributor to landfills, where it produces greenhouse gasses including high levels of methane. Methane is around 25 times more effective at trapping heat in the atmosphere than CO2. The economic impact of this, when totaled across the cost of wasted resources, business losses, waste disposal costs, consumer impact, and more, amounts to over $400 billion annually in the U.S., while exacerbating food insecurity as millions go hungry.
ClearCOGS has been working hard to make a dent in the food waste problem by utilizing AI-powered technology. A new study developed with ReFED and the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) Climate Corps program, demonstrated how the ClearCOGS tool reduces food waste and greenhouse gas emissions in restaurants.
The report reveals that ClearCOGS helps restaurants prevent up to 4.48 tons of CO2 equivalent and 1.44 tons of methane emissions per location, per month, by optimizing daily food preparation. These savings are equivalent to the emissions from an average gas-powered vehicle driving for around 115,000 miles.
Despite the enormous benefit to the environment, the ClearCOGS solution was actually created as a means of increasing restaurant profits. By simplifying the decision-making process for restaurant managers, ClearCOGS allows restaurants to run more efficiently, reducing waste, and increasing profit margins by an average of 2%. In an industry where profit margins are so small, positive environmental change has to come with economic incentive.
To enhance their effort towards eliminating food waste, ClearCOGS will soon introduce an automated emissions calculator. This new feature will give restaurants the ability to monitor their environmental impact in real time, tracking the exact emissions reductions they achieve through better inventory management and food waste prevention. With clear, actionable data, operators will have the tools to meet their sustainability goals and show their progress to customers and stakeholders.
Learn more about ClearCOGS’ sustainability initiatives or read the full report.
