ReFed Food Waste Solutions Summit 2025: Key Takeaways and Learnings

The 2025 ReFed Food Waste Solutions Summit is a vital gathering for anyone serious about tackling food loss and waste. This year, our team was on the ground, absorbing the latest insights and connecting with fellow leaders in the space. After a packed first day, a few key themes emerged that are shaping the future of food systems: the intersection of food waste and social justice, innovative rescue and diversion logistics, and the undeniable power of supply chain collaboration.

Here are some of the key learnings from day one of the Summit.

Food Waste as a Social Justice Issue

The summit began by framing the food waste problem within a crucial social context. A speaker highlighted a jarring paradox in the United States: while a third of all food is wasted, one in seven Americans faces hunger. The discussion went deeper, revealing the intersectional nature of this injustice; for instance, the rate of food insecurity is even higher for people of color and families with children. This session was a powerful reminder that our work in supply chain efficiency is directly connected to building more equitable and just food futures.

Innovating Food Rescue and Diversion

Discussions around solutions were a major focus, showcasing creative and effective strategies for keeping food from landfills.

• Corporate-Level Rescue: A representative from Starbucks detailed their food rescue program, which uses backhauling logistics. Trucks that deliver products to stores are used to transport surplus food back to a central hub for efficient distribution to food banks.
• Hyper-Local Sorting: Another panelist described setting up operations directly inside terminal food markets. By sorting fresh produce on-site, they can immediately decide what can be redistributed and what should be composted, diverting huge volumes of food from landfill to donation.
• Data-Driven Diversion: Solution providers are now using technology to conduct “waste audits” for businesses and schools. By using visual analysis of waste, they can pinpoint the root causes and types of food being discarded, which helps in developing targeted diversion strategies like composting and anaerobic digestion.

The Power of Whole-Chain Collaboration

A highlight of the day was a panel on how collaboration can solve complex supply chain problems. The discussion emphasized that focusing on a single commodity across its entire supply chain—from farm to fork—is a powerful driver of change. This approach fosters deep understanding and partnership between different actors, who can see how they depend on one another to reduce food loss.

We were particularly proud to see a shout-out from the WWF for LIDD’s whole-chain projects on strawberries and frozen potatoes, reinforcing the value of this collaborative model.

The first day of the ReFed Food Waste Solutions Summit made it clear that the fight against food waste is being waged on multiple, interconnected fronts. From global insights shared by representatives from the UK, Mexico, and Thailand to hyper-local logistics, the solutions are as diverse as the problem itself. We’re leaving inspired and eager to bring these insights back to our projects, helping our clients build more efficient, resilient, and sustainable supply chains.