Fighting Food Waste
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- Lyons Raw is collaborating with farms to reduce food waste by transforming surplus fruits and vegetables into high-nutrient powders.
- Approximately 20% of all fresh produce grown in Australia doesn’t make it to supermarkets due to oversupply or cosmetic imperfections.
- Around 40% of food bought from supermarkets is left to rot, contributing to significant waste.
- Globally, 31% of food produced goes uneaten, accounting for nearly 10% of total greenhouse gas emissions.
- Lyons Raw’s 'Fresh Start' initiative will repurpose unharvested or blemished produce into sustainable, nutrient-rich powders that support farmers and reduce environmental impact.
The Issue: A Global Food Waste Challenge
We’re in the midst of a global food waste crisis. In Australia alone, nearly one-quarter of all fresh produce never makes it to supermarket shelves. Fruits and vegetables are often discarded because of oversupply, blemishes or failing to meet cosmetic standards - being deemed too big, too small or simply “imperfect.”
This waste isn’t just about lost produce - it’s an environmental disaster. Rotting food in landfills produces methane, a greenhouse gas significantly more potent than carbon dioxide. A 2021 UN report revealed that if food waste were a country, it would rank as the third-largest emitter of greenhouse gases.
We believe we have a responsibility to play a role in resolving this issue. With innovative thinking and sustainable practices, we’re committed to addressing food waste while creating value for farmers, consumers and the planet.
Why Food Waste Matters
Every piece of discarded produce represents lost resources - land, water, energy and labour - all used to grow something that is ultimately wasted. Yet, these “imperfect” fruits and vegetables are just as nutritious and flavourful as their more cosmetically appealing counterparts.
That’s why we’re putting sustainability at the heart of our 5-year plan. By repurposing surplus and discarded produce, we can reduce waste, cut greenhouse gas emissions and give these fruits and vegetables a second life.
Our Plan: From Food Waste to Nutrient-Rich Powders
Our solution focuses on upcycling - the process of transforming food that would otherwise go to waste into innovative, high-value products. Here’s how we’ll do it:
- Sourcing: We will partner with farms and food suppliers to collect surplus or “ugly” produce - whether it’s blemished, oddly shaped or left unharvested due to oversupply.
- Processing: We will use advanced freeze-drying and milling technologies to create vibrant powders that preserve nutrients, flavours and shelf life.
- Expanding Our Product Line: We will develop a range of fruit and vegetable powders perfect for smoothies, baking or as a nutritional boost - all while reducing food waste.
This initiative doesn’t just tackle waste; it also creates a home for produce impacted by weather events like hailstorms, ensuring growers can still benefit from their hard work.
Sustainability in Action
We want our brand to do more than promise throwaway buzzwords - we have a commitment to making a tangible difference. Our initiative supports:
- Farmers: By creating a market for surplus produce, we’re helping farmers profit from crops that would otherwise go to waste.
- The Environment: Diverting food waste from landfills reduces methane emissions and lessens the environmental impact of food production.
- Affordable Nutrition: High-quality, nutrient-rich powders made from surplus produce will be accessible and sustainable, benefiting both consumers and the planet.
Lyons Raw's Founder, Jack Lyons, describes the Fresh Start initiative as:
“... an incredible way to address two of the world’s most pressing challenges: food waste, which accounts for nearly 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions and the health crisis caused by people not getting enough fruits and vegetables in their diet.”
What’s Next for Lyons Raw?
This is just the beginning of our sustainability journey. We’re currently building partnerships with local farms and food producers to scale this initiative. Our vision includes creating powders from surplus kale, broccoli and more - unlocking endless possibilities to reduce waste and improve nutrition.
But change requires collective effort. By supporting Lyons Raw and initiatives like ours, you’re contributing to a future where nothing goes to waste and everything is valued.
Together, we can transform the way we think about food waste, one powder at a time.
Stay tuned for updates as we bring this exciting project to life!