International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste 2024: A Conversation with the UN Advisory Board member on Zero Waste

On September 29, we celebrate the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste—a moment to reflect on the impact of food waste on our environment and global food security. As the world struggles to balance the need for food production with the necessity of sustainability, it is becoming increasingly clear that the solutions to these problems lie in innovative, circular approaches. At The Waste Transformers, we support businesses and communities to stay at the forefront of this movement. The founder and CEO of The Waste Transformers, Lara van Druten, serves as a member of the United Nations Advisory Board on Zero Waste. Together, we explored the critical role of food waste reduction andvalorisation and the bold actions needed to maintain a sustainable future. A global issue with local solutionsFood loss and waste are responsible fornearly a third of all food produced globally. The consequences are immense, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation, and water overuse. Lara emphasizes, “What many people don’t realize is that food waste isn’tjust about what we throw out at home. It’s a systemic issue. From production to transportation to storage, food is lost every step of the way. And each business serving food within their organisation does contribute unfortunately to this global issue.”Lara’s position on the UN Zero Waste Advisory Board allows her to work with leaders worldwide to address these systemic issues. Her unique approach is grounded in her work with The Waste Transformers, whichguides businesses to turn food waste into energy and valuable resources on-site, directly helping them to avoid food waste being collected and sent to landfill.“At The Waste Transformers, we believe in decentralized smart solutions, not only to reduce the costs for waste management, but also to guide them how to deal with regulations enforcing businesses to start separating their food waste and making it available for re-use. We install our waste-to-energy systems at the source of food waste, be it next to a hotel, inside a market or community, turning waste into electricity, heat, and liquid natural fertilizer. This tangible approach allows our clients to close the loop on food waste and avoid unnecessary transportation and emissions of food waste otherwise rotting away on a landfill.”  Capacity building workshop in Freetown creating awareness around food waste valorisation Commitment to circularityAs highlighted in the UN Habitat report, The Waste Transformers is a proven solution for on-site food waste valorization, tackling food waste at its source. By converting food waste into energy and nutrients, our clients contribute directly to achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those related to responsible consumption, sustainable cities, and climate action. Lara mentions, “Our on-site biodigesters are helping businesses, cities, and even universities take control of their own food waste. These organisations don’t need to wait on separate food waste services being offered by their local waste management company, as this is often not part of the service. Instead of seeing food waste as a burden, we show them its value. We’redemonstrating that circularity is not only possible, but profitable, sustainable, and scalable.” The company’s impact has grown from local installations to global recognition, proving that small, decentralized food waste solutions play a huge role in the fight against climate change. Looking ahead: COP29 and the future of food wasteAs COP29 approaches in November 2024, the global focus on climate action will intensify, with food systems and waste reduction playing a crucial role. On-site food waste valorization, like the solutions developed by The Waste Transformers, is set to be a key component in the fight against climate change. By addressing food waste at its source, these systems not only reduce emissions but also transform waste into valuable resources like energy and organic fertilizer.  Lara speaking on stage to create awareness and action around food waste management. Governments and businesses need to adopt more concrete strategies for scaling food waste management efforts. As Lara van Druten emphasizes, "To tackle food waste at scale, we need strong commitments from governments to incentivize decentralized waste management solutions, to harvest the cleanest waste streams possible. Businesses recognize now the economic and environmental benefits of valorizing food waste on-site, turning what was once a cost into a resource."At COP29, the aim is to push for greater recognition and implementation of decentralized, circular solutions that can help businesses, cities, and communities manage their food waste more effectively. By doing so, these businesses can make significant progress toward a zero waste future while tackling the broader challenges of climate change and sustainability. In this way, we can all take individual actions to reduce the number of one-third of all food produced globally is being wasted. It takes courage and leadership from those businesses that aim to stand on the right side of the future.  Reference:  

1. UN SG’s Advisory Board on Zero Waste. (2024). Revolutionizing on-site food waste valorization through a decentralized replicable approach. The Waste Transformers.https://unhabitat.org/sites/default/files/2024/04/on-site_food_waste_valorization.pdf
2. COP29 Baku Azerbaijan: https://cop29.az/en 

About The Waste Transformers: The Waste Transformers is a Dutch cleantech pioneer, providing on-site innovative technologies to transform unavoidable food waste into sustainable energy and natural fertilizers, enabling local positive change. Their on-site biodigesters empower businesses to adopt sustainable practices, reduce their environmental footprint, and contribute to a circular economy through their own food waste transformation.