Happy Wednesday 👋

Did you know that about 30% of all perishable food goes to waste? 

And that’s not just tragic because of the more than 800 million people starving worldwide…

…but also because there are solutions available to mitigate both at the same time.

Just like the one I’ll share with you below!

Here are the impactful insights that I have for you today:

• A way to upcycle food waste and create climate-positive products 🌾
• How sustainable packaging is revolutionizing the food industry ♻️
• Reducing emissions from the red meat industry 🐄
• And more… 💚

🌾 How to Safe & Upcycle Food Waste Sustainably

Did you know that there’s a technology that can transform food waste into a nutritious powder that can feed people all across the world for years to come? And that this same technology can also create climate-positive products? Then you’ll enjoy our conversation together with Gary Schuler from GTF Technologies! 👇

🎥 We’ve just launched a new podcast episode with Gary Schuler from GTF Technologies. Gary was a sales executive at America’s largest uniform supplier when he noticed a 30-foot-high wall of pallets stacked in the distribution center. He then went on to advise several other businesses on waste reduction. And, finally, he was motivated to launch an organization dedicated to the efficient distribution of returned, wasted, or unused materials—which led him to found GTF Technologies.

💚 GTF Technologies, which stands for “Gleaning the Fields,” is a leader in food stabilization technology. They specialize in instantly drying and micronizing perishable foods—like fresh produce, raw organic materials, and food processing side streams—into nutrient-dense powders. In this way, they provide a sustainable solution to upcycle food waste.

Here are three key points that you’ll learn from this episode:

✅ How saving food from going to landfills was key to starting his organization…

✅ How their technology doesn’t only reduce food waste but also carbon emissions…

✅ How they could use their technology to help organizations become more holistically sustainable…

📢 More Good News…

🌎 How a top human rights court is tackling corporate climate crimes:

• The Inter-American Court of Human Rights recently held a landmark hearing on the role of businesses, particularly those in the fossil fuel and agriculture industries, in addressing climate-related human rights breaches. 
• The hearing, titled “The climate emergency and human rights,” took place in Barbados and focused on clarifying states’ responsibilities in tackling climate change and preventing human rights violations caused by the climate crisis.
• The Court is expected to publish its final advisory opinion on this matter later this year, the outcome of which could have significant implications for businesses and governments in addressing climate change and protecting human rights.

🐄 The Australian red meat industry sees significant emission reductions:

• The red meat industry in Australia has achieved a significant reduction of 78% in net greenhouse gas emissions since 2005. This reduction is attributed to decreased rates of land clearing and increased forest regrowth.
• The report highlights that the high rainfall in 2020-21 led to increased carbon sequestration due to vegetation growth on land managed by the red meat sector, covering an area equivalent to about half of Australia’s landmass.
• Overall, while the Australian red meat industry has made significant strides in reducing emissions, challenges remain in achieving the ambitious goal of net zero emissions by 2030. 

♻️ How sustainable packaging is revolutionizing the food industry:

• The food industry is undergoing a significant transformation with sustainable packaging leading the way. Key changes include transitioning from traditional plastics to biodegradable plant-based plastics, edible packaging, and recycled materials.
• Innovations from companies like Notpla, using seaweed and natural materials, highlight this shift towards eco-friendly options, responding to consumer demand for greener products.
• Ultimately, sustainable food packaging represents more than just a trend—it’s a vital shift towards long-term viability and environmental responsibility, setting a precedent for other industries to follow and inspiring innovations for a more sustainable planet.

🤝 Three Important Awareness Events

🐕 May 5-11, National Pet Week:

• National Pet Week was founded in 1981 by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and the Auxiliary to the AVMA to encourage pet owners to provide their companions with everything they need to have happy, healthy lives. 
• Each day of the awareness week has a different theme organized by AVMA’s member veterinarians to improve knowledge surrounding pet care.

🧑‍⚕️ May 6–12, National Nurses Week: 

• National Nurses Week celebrates the important contributions from nurses throughout the US. 
• The week is observed with nurse-centric events and testimonials from people about how nurses have shaped their lives. 

🦈 May 10, Fintastic Friday: 

• Fintastic Friday raises awareness of shark welfare worldwide. 
• As an often misunderstood animal, it is incredibly important to celebrate sharks and advocate for their welfare. 

Related: You can discover all the 158 most important awareness events (for the month, days, weeks) in our awareness calendar for May 2024!

📜 These Days in History

☮️ May 8, 1945: Victory in Europe Day or V-E Day was celebrated at the final surrender of German forces. This day marks the end of the six-year European conflict of World War II. 

🇿🇦 May 10, 1994: Nelson Mandela was inaugurated as the first President of South Africa. His heavy involvement with the anti-apartheid movement was an important factor in his election.

💭 Quote of the Day

“What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others.”

― Nelson Mandela; Former South African president, anti-apartheid activist, politician, and statesman

Share the news with your friends to make a bigger positive impact on the world and society!

Stay impactful 💚