Dole uses solar panels to help fight food waste

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Reprinted from May 13, 2021

Last of three parts

“Working at every layer applies to aspects of our world affected by food,” said Future Food Institute Founder Sara Roversi. “‘Thirty-seven percent of global emissions come from the food industry, she said. To tackle this problem, Dole Packaged Foods is working to upcycle and fight food waste.

“For example, Dole works with companies in the textile industry, one of which uses banana-leaf fiber to create items, such as face masks. Dole recently installed more than 33,000 square meters of solar panels at its facilities in Thailand and the Philippines, which Sigismondi said should ‘reduce CO2 emissions by more than 100,000 metric tons over the next 15 years.’ Some of Dole’s bananas will start getting a packaging makeover, reducing the amount of plastic otherwise destined for New Zealand landfills by approximately 16 tons each year.

“Of course, all of this affects consumers at the end of the supply chain, such as those in Jackson, Miss., a food desert with only 20 grocery stores serving a population of 170,000. There, Dole holds both public and private partnerships, including with The Boys and Girls Club, to bring fresh produce to the area.

“This is just a small glimpse of the players and places working toward Dole’s 2025, and 2030, goals, let alone those involved in creating food sustainability and access worldwide. But, according to Roversi, their work represents a larger shift in consciousness that will keep good nutrition, and all the positive effects that come with it—top of mind.

‘“We now have the opportunity to change something, because people are understanding that food insecurity is strongly connected with issues [such as] health and people getting sick,’ Barbara Guerpillon said. ‘So people are starting to understand the complexity of food, [and that] if you’re not solving the issues of the global food system, you’re not going to solve all the other challenges that the world is facing.’” Fastco Works wrote.

FastCo Works is Fast Company’s branded content studio. Advertisers commission FastCo Works to consult on projects, as well.

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