The United Nations Conference in Salt Lake City was an opportunity for businesses to showcase what actions they’re taking to contribute to building sustainable cities and communities. Goodr, a company based in Atlanta, is doing an excellent job of tackling the issue of food waste. Jasmine Crowe, founder and CEO of Goodr explained how they use technology as a tool to incentivize businesses to waste less food.
Crowe developed a system to track food waste numbers and reroute it those in need. They send a report to the business they’re working with on who the food went to. This way, the company knows how they are contributing to their community. Crowe said, “Cities need to make sure businesses aren’t allowed to waste food.” That’s why she developed a food waste system, because “you can’t manage what you don’t measure.” Goodr uses “real-time data analytics” to “measure waste,” “show tax savings” and “share the impact with the world.” (Goodr.co)
Food Waste is an especially big problem in the United States. The USDA estimates that around 30 to 40 percent of the food supply is wasted. Businesses could alleviate this issue by donating their excess food, however many don’t because they worry it could be a liability and result in a lawsuit. Crowe clarified that no business donating food in goodwill can be sued. This is known as the Good Samaritan law. She also addressed how we need to focus on donating real meals, not just food. Her business is working towards this goal by working with a variety of businesses.
Companies like Goodr are essential in moving towards a sustainable society. Goodr uses the triple bottom line in their work by “improving an organization’s bottom line through charitable donations,” “reducing its greenhouse emissions from landfills” and “getting its edible surplus food to local communities in need.” (Goodr.co) Businesses like Goodr can empower other companies to become more sustainable, give back to the community, and show them how to save money in the process.