Upside, a technology company that strives to increase the financial power of people and retailers, has rescued over 1 million pounds of food through its 1% pledge — the company’s promise to commit 1% of all revenue to sustainability initiatives related to its areas of operation.
“Making commerce more efficient shouldn’t just be about people and businesses,” Tyler Renaghan, VP of Retail at Upside, said in a company press release. “We also need to think about the bigger picture, like the impact on food waste. At Upside, we’re proud to not only connect retailers with local consumers, but also to make meaningful progress in reducing the environmental impact of the food sector.”
Apart from offering direct financial support to Food Rescue US, an organization dedicated to eliminating hunger and food waste, and the nonprofit food rescue platform, MEANS Database, participating retailers may harness Upside’s platform for additional benefits in the fight against food waste. By using the platform, retailers gain access to extensive insights into the purchasing patterns of Upside users. The data can play a pivotal role in devising strategies that enhance the distribution of perishable goods, according to the release.
“Upside has been instrumental in advancing our mission to create a more sustainable future, where everyone has access to nutritious food,” Dave Lampert, CEO of Food Rescue US, said in a company press release. “Their support has been invaluable for our food recovery work. With their help, we’ve been able to expand into 42 locations across 24 states and DC.
Food waste poses a significant environmental challenge, said Sammie Paul, executive director of MEANS Database. When food isn’t used, it means the resources used to grow and make the food are wasted — like land, water, labor and energy. Then, when food goes to landfills, it creates methane, a major cause of climate change. In fact, around 8% of all global greenhouse gas emissions come from food waste.
“In the ever-changing world we live in, filled with challenges such as inflation, supply chain issues, and climate change, collaboration has become essential. Upside’s continued support of MEANS Database’s work to redistribute food to our neighbors in need is one example of a fantastic collaboration that benefits both people and the planet,” Paul said in the release. “Through this partnership with Upside, we have been able to redistribute over 394,600 pounds of food to people across the country this year, while simultaneously preventing 677,691 pounds of carbon from being emitted.”
Since 2016, Upside has offset over 3 million metric tons of CO2 emissions linked to fuel purchases made through its platform. In 2021, its CO2 offset achievements surpassed those of many prominent corporate entities, positioning the company ahead of industry giants like Microsoft and General Motors and trailing closely behind Disney, according to the release.
