Wednesday, April 28 was “Stop Food Waste Day,” and Charleston-based company Vertical Roots hopes to raise awareness after announcing “an aggressive commitment” to eliminate food waste at its hydroponic container farms by 2030.
Vertical Roots and parent company AmplifiedAg, which manufactures VR’s indoor farms, software and technology, are pledging to “reduce company food loss and waste over 50% by 2025 with the goal to be food waste and loss free by 2030,” according to a Tuesday press release.
Food waste is defined as, “uneaten food and inedible parts that end up being landfilled, incinerated, disposed of down the sewer, dumped, or spread onto land.” Vertical Roots and AmplifiedAg aim to reduce its footprint with three practices: preventing food waste, donating to food rescue organizations and composting all waste that can’t be donated. According to a company spokesperson, this is already taking place at VR’s Charleston headquarters, which is “nearly 100% food waste free,” and the company plans to implement these practices at its Columbia facility and future farm sites.
“When you look at the numbers, food waste and waste in general can feel like an overwhelming problem to tackle. But if we all make efforts to reduce our waste, we can create a sustainable shift for the future of our planet,” said Vertical Roots co-founder and general manager Andrew Hare in the release.
Vertical Roots is also launching a #wastenolettuce awareness campaign on social media in honor of its commitment by partnering with chefs, influencers and others, who will share food waste reducing tips and healthy recipes each month.
For more information on the campaign, follow Vertical Roots on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
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