Forty percent of globally produced food is lost (at production, harvest, storage and processing the stages) or wasted (at consumption points ) thus costing the global economy more than US$ 1 trillion in losses per year and exacerbating poverty and hunger. Food waste lowers the profit of food producers and increases the cost on consumers, which in turn reduces access to food and undermines food and nutrition security. Moreover, the environmental costs of food loss and waste amounts to US $700 billion.
Single-use plastic is substantial throughout current food systems. Food and drinks packaging by itself represents 16% of all plastic use. However, this figure does not account for the plastic used during production, distribution and waste disposal.
Thriving Solutions focuses on facilitating the diffusion of circular regenerative approaches, that design out waste and pollution, keeps products and materials in use to the furthest extent, and regenerating natural ecosystems. Minimizing plastic use and reducing food loss and waste (which costs the global economy US$ 1 trillion annually), saves resources at the individual, institutional, regional and global level. As a result of this shift, the Ellen MacArthur Foundation projects annual benefits as high as US$ 2.7 trillion by 2050.
Food supply chains, food environments, and consumer behavior, are key entry and exit points to drive the shift to circular regenerative urban systems.