Todd Matthews, Denali CEO
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The evidence is undeniable. Against a backdrop of growing food insecurity, we are drowning in an epidemic of food waste. Maintaining current agricultural and food management practices puts the health of the planet at risk. As the world's population rapidly increases, demand for food intensifies and the threat of more extreme weather events and water shortages looms large in the food chain.
Meanwhile, wasted food accounts for 38% to 40% of the total U.S. food supply, which equates to a market value of about $444 billion, according to Bloomberg. The European Commission reports that more than 58 million tonnes of food waste is generated annually in the EU, with an estimated market value of €132 billion. Globally, more than a third of the food produced is wasted. In fact, many estimates suggest that 8-10% of the world's anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions come from food waste alone.
Whether measured in tons or billions of dollars in lost revenue, the astronomical scale of the problem is clear. So who are the main causes of this waste, and most importantly, what new solutions can help us get out of the mess?
Almost half of food waste comes from households, while farms, manufacturing, food service and retail industries account for the remaining 50%. These are the markets that Denali, one of the largest waste recycling companies in the United States, is targeting nationally.
The company is actively working on an organizational transition to a more circular economy. “Denali works with more than 10,500 grocers, including major companies like Walmart and Kroger, to recycle more than 2.6 billion pounds of food waste in less than two years.” Smaller food deliveries like HelloFresh service,” explains Denali CEO Todd Matthes. “In addition to food, the company recycles more than 10 billion pounds of organic materials each year, including wastewater, sludge, and plants.
The dairy cows consume feed made by Denali from recycled agricultural byproducts and unsold food.
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Denali collects and processes billions of pounds and gallons of liquid and solid waste and recycles it into new feedstocks such as compost, high-quality animal feed, biodiesel, and power gas from anaerobic digesters. doing. The residue from the water purification process is recycled to the agricultural industry as an alternative fertilizer, replacing commercially available fertilizers that are normally obtained from raw materials. “We are happy to participate in how society evolves and becomes more responsible,” Matthes says.
Matthes, who has a long history in the food waste industry, is optimistic about the future. He has been involved with his Denali since its founding in 2013, and its predecessor, his Terra Renewal, dates back to his 1990s. Over the years, he has witnessed a shift from mere aggregation of waste to a real commitment to effective action. He says there are a lot of young leaders in the field and “we're seeing large organizations embracing sustainability requirements and leveraging sustainability as part of their decision-making.” states. ~Production process~”
The company, originally known as Terra Renewal, started by addressing the need for water treatment in industrial processes, producing a nutrient-rich slurry as a byproduct that could be reused as fertilizer for farmers. Driven by the passion of its dedicated founders who tirelessly pursued acquisition goals aligned with landfill diversion goals, the company expanded to integrate diverse organic waste solutions into a unified network, providing We are now equipped to serve a large variety of customers. “That changed our company. His desire to reach a broader audience and grow into a bigger company,” Matthes says. “We continue to work towards his vision today.”
Denali makes fertilizer and compost from recycled agricultural byproducts and unsold food.
denali
Taking a serious approach to accelerating the transition to a circular economy, Matthes says solutions must make sense for businesses not only on an environmental level but also on a financial level. The benefit of circularity is that waste reduction and recycling ultimately pay off. For example, waste from food manufacturers can be reused as a fertilizer replacement, reducing input costs for farmers, and dirty cooking oil from restaurants can be turned into biodiesel. Power the same restaurant truck.
And as Denali continues to innovate and expand its services, its partnerships include urban commercial and residential composting needs, hospitality venues, food delivery services like HelloFresh, and even sports stadiums. Masu. The company helped Phoenix divert 92.6% of Super Bowl waste from landfills and work toward its vision of the greenest Super Bowl in the event's history. The company works on developing new solutions every day. This is just the beginning of circularity.
Asked about future trends in the field, Matthes said reuse options continue to change and grow with rapidly emerging technologies. “We are listening closely on this front. Other trends include improved anaerobic digestion, increased fertilizer value, and new market products for organic waste.
“We're seeing a push at all levels, primarily towards waste reduction. People are saying, let's prevent food waste in the system, and that's a good thing. Over time, we will continue to develop solutions, but I think the raw materials in the system will be reduced.''However, when it comes to mass production of food, waste cannot be completely eliminated. There will always be by-products and waste in the system, and we will continue to use them.
“We believe that waste should not be wasted. We are part of the infrastructure that is needed. I think that is important and exciting. We believe that the world should be sustainable. We want to be able to provide food in a way.”
Denali is making a significant contribution to repairing our broken food system, allowing us to move away from linear economics that consumes the Earth's finite resources to circular production that respects nature while increasing corporate profits. It shows that. “We’ve been doing this for a long time,” Matthes says. “But the space itself is starting to enter a new era. I'm more hopeful than scared.”
Food waste may be one of the world's most pressing challenges, but it's also a rapidly developing area that offers hope. There is increasing momentum for solutions that address not only climate change but also production costs and social equity, moving us closer to our next goal. The United Nations Sustainable Development Agenda aims to halve global food waste by 2030.