oregon’s wasted food strategy · food waste strategy of ongoing work, research and future plans...

Elaine Blatt and David Allaway | Oregon Department of Environmental Quality

EPA SMM Webinar

September 16, 2019

Oregon’s Wasted Food Strategy:Highlights of current work, recent research and next steps

Elaine Blatt and David Allaway | Oregon Department of Environmental Quality

Why Wasted Food?

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Elaine Blatt and David Allaway | Oregon Department of Environmental Quality 3

Food Matters

Elaine Blatt and David Allaway | Oregon Department of Environmental Quality

Relative GHG impacts

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Elaine Blatt and David Allaway | Oregon Department of Environmental Quality

We want to “change the conversation”

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Reduce Generation

Reduce Disposal

IncinerateLandfill

We’re stuck at the bottom of the hierarchy

• Recovery offers a “technical fix”

• Prevention requires behavior change and systemic fixes

Elaine Blatt and David Allaway | Oregon Department of Environmental Quality 6

Oregon’s Strategic Plan

http://www.oregon.gov/deq/mm/Pages/foodwastestrategy.aspx

Elaine Blatt and David Allaway | Oregon Department of Environmental Quality 7

Oregon Wasted Food Measurement Study

Comprised of two parts:

• In-depth study of Oregon households

https://www.oregon.gov/deq/mm/food/Pages/Wasted-Food-Study.aspx

• Case studies involving 15 food service businesses

https://www.oregon.gov/deq/mm/food/Pages/Commercial-Case-Studies.aspx

Elaine Blatt and David Allaway | Oregon Department of Environmental Quality 8

Oregon Wasted Food Measurement Study

Household Study

Design

Phase I: In-depth

interviews

Phase II: Statewide

phone survey

Phase III: Mixed

methods

Elaine Blatt and David Allaway | Oregon Department of Environmental Quality 9

Measurement study: findings

Elaine Blatt and David Allaway | Oregon Department of Environmental Quality 10

Measurement study: findings

Food Category % of food % of food % of food

Inedible 32.1% 31.2% 31.8%

Vegetables & Fruits 25% 21% 23.5%

Prepared Foods & Leftovers 11.4% 13.1% 12%

Baked Goods 6.8% 10.9% 8.3%

Meat & Fish 5.6% 7% 6.9%

Snacks, Condiments, Sauces 5.3% 1.8% 5.9%

Dry Foods 6% .5% 4.4%

Total(n=230)

Rural(n=96)

Urban(n=134)

Waste sort results:

Elaine Blatt and David Allaway | Oregon Department of Environmental Quality

Measurement study: findings

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93

46 44

62

154

220

359

3125

13

53

96

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

Yuck factor Tired of Eating Hard to Reuse

Too Much, NotControllableMade too much

ManagementProblemDon't know how touse

Relationship of Immediate and Root Loss Reasons To Each Other

Elaine Blatt and David Allaway | Oregon Department of Environmental Quality

Measurement: findings

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Pre-Diary - Statement: I feel less guilty about throwing out food that is composted

Urban Rural Total

Disagree 5.3% 3.7% 4.6%Somewhat Disagree 2.3% 1.2% 1.9%Neither Agree or Disagree 13.6% 32.1% 20.4%Somewhat Agree 30.3% 30.9% 30.1%Agree 48.5% 32.1% 41.7%

Elaine Blatt and David Allaway | Oregon Department of Environmental Quality

Commercial Case Studies

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• Also conducted by PSU CES

• Methodology

Waste assessment

Staff interviews

Environmental impact analysis (where possible)

Cost savings estimates (where possible)

Elaine Blatt and David Allaway | Oregon Department of Environmental Quality

Commercial Case Studies

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• Report summarizes barriers and recommended practices involving:

Valuing food

Role of quality standards

Valuing staff and other labor issues

Fear of running out

Role of culture

Role of standardization

Assessment methods

Elaine Blatt and David Allaway | Oregon Department of Environmental Quality

Food Rescue Study

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Elaine Blatt and David Allaway | Oregon Department of Environmental Quality

Key Takeaways: Social

1. The need has changed

2. Supply doesn’t always match the need

3. Measurement helps tell the story

4. Food rescue organizations and their clients know best

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Elaine Blatt and David Allaway | Oregon Department of Environmental Quality

Life Cycle Assessment

smog formation

energy demand

freshwater consumption

global warming potential

topsoil erosion

human health

aquatic toxicity

eutrophication

habitat destruction

1727 August 2019

Elaine Blatt and David Allaway | Oregon Department of Environmental Quality

Global Warming Potential

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-400

-200

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

S1 - Redistributionfrom Farm

S2 - Gleaning fromFarm

S3 - GleaningUrban Car

S3 - GleaningUrban Van

S4 - Retail to PA S5 - Retail to FB S6 - Prepared foodfrom Retail

S7 - DirectDonation of

Prepared Food

S8 - Local SmallBusiness Food

Rescue App Car

kg C

O2

eq

.

Net GWP of Food Rescue

7% Waste

20% Waste

Elaine Blatt and David Allaway | Oregon Department of Environmental Quality

Smog formation potential

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-10

-5

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

S1 - Redistributionfrom Farm

S2 - Gleaning fromFarm

S3 - GleaningUrban Car

S3 - GleaningUrban Van

S4 - Retail to PA S5 - Retail to FB S6 - Prepared foodfrom Retail

S7 - DirectDonation of

Prepared Food

S8 - Local SmallBusiness Food

Rescue App Car

kg O

3 e

q.

Net SFP of Food Rescue

Elaine Blatt and David Allaway | Oregon Department of Environmental Quality

Key Findings - LCA

• Waste and loss matter most

• Transport is important

• Landfill diversion benefits vary

• Facilities are small contributors

• Disposal of loss and waste

• The relevance of upstream food production

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Elaine Blatt and David Allaway | Oregon Department of Environmental Quality

Recommendations

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Feed Hungry People

1. Start with prevention, at the top of the hierarchy

3. Rescue foods using the most efficient most of transport and from as close to recipients as possible

Source Reduction

2. Rescue foods that: • have higher nutritional value and• are most likely to be consumed

Elaine Blatt and David Allaway | Oregon Department of Environmental Quality

1991Program initiated

2008Program suspended

Timeline

2017 & 2018Wasted food prevention focus

2015Restarted with

new authority

Grants

Elaine Blatt and David Allaway | Oregon Department of Environmental Quality

Food grants: Cafeteria plate size

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Elaine Blatt and David Allaway | Oregon Department of Environmental Quality

Food grants: Community engagement

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Elaine Blatt and David Allaway | Oregon Department of Environmental Quality

Food grants: School cafeteria milk dispensers

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Elaine Blatt and David Allaway | Oregon Department of Environmental Quality

Milk dispenser vs. carton streamlined LCA (DEQ)

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Elaine Blatt and David Allaway | Oregon Department of Environmental Quality

Engagement with Commercial Food Service

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• [add photos]

Elaine Blatt and David Allaway | Oregon Department of Environmental Quality

Commercial campaign

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Elaine Blatt and David Allaway | Oregon Department of Environmental Quality

Next Steps: Commercial campaign and engagement

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Elaine Blatt and David Allaway | Oregon Department of Environmental Quality

Oregon Restaurant and Lodging Association

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Elaine Blatt and David Allaway | Oregon Department of Environmental Quality

Pacific North America Voluntary Alliance

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Commitments:

• Regional goal of 50% reduction by 2030

• Jurisdiction-specific (state/province/city) strategies, including prevention goals

• Engage industry in voluntary agreements

Elaine Blatt and David Allaway | Oregon Department of Environmental Quality

West Coast Voluntary Agreement to Reduce Wasted Food

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• Based on successful effort in UK and includes CA, OR, WA, and BC.

• Engagement with grocers and brand manufacturers to gain their commitment to reduce wasted food

• Just starting to put together a coalition of businesses; looking to launch by end of 2019

Elaine Blatt and David Allaway | Oregon Department of Environmental Quality

Next Steps: Messaging research and consumer campaign

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• Builds on household measurement study

• Messaging Research

Objective to ID messages that will best motivate Oregonians to reduce wasted food

Combo of qualitative and quantitative research

• State-wide campaign

Based on research

Materials also available for use by local governments

To be deployed early 2020

Elaine Blatt and David Allaway | Oregon Department of Environmental Quality

Thanks!

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IncinerateLandfill

Oregon’s 2050 Vision for Materials Management:Oregonians in 2050 produce and use materials responsibly – conserving resources –protecting the environment – living well

Elaine Blatt

blatt.elaine@deq.state.or.us

David Allaway

allaway.david@deq.state.or.us