Let's start with a staggering statistic. Did you know that as much as 40 percent of our food is wasted in the United States? That accounts for approximately 133 billion pounds of food each and every year.
This issue significantly impacts food sustainability, economic efficiency, and environmental conservation, much less the bottom lines of foodservice operations across the central U.S., and is the financial equivalent of throwing away two out of every five $20 bills.
That's the bad news. The good news is today's foodservice equipment manufacturers are working as hard as ever to develop new innovations that will reduce food waste by extending the shelf life of food, and one such solution combines advanced refrigeration and UV preservation techniques. These systems help extend the shelf life of perishables and keep food fresher for longer.
Food waste in commercial kitchens is a significant issue with far-reaching consequences. In the United States alone, restaurants generate an estimated 22 to 33 billion pounds of food waste annually. By 2030, wasted food is projected to account for about USD 1.50 trillion in lost revenue. Environmentally, food waste in landfills decomposes and releases methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Globally, landfills and wastewater emit 67 million metric tons of methane, accounting for 20% of methane emissions.
Reducing food waste in commercial kitchens is crucial for both economic and environmental reasons. Even a 20% reduction in food waste could save businesses up to $7 billion annually. Moreover, if just 30% of the food currently wasted in the United States was recovered and donated, it could feed every food-insecure American.
Those statistics just scratch the surface of food waste and its impact. But now the good news: Heartland Reps is committed to helping solve our nation's food waste crisis with innovations that combine the best in commercial refrigeration with high-tech food preservation solutions that can extend the shelf life of produce and other perishables. Let's start with the walk-in cooler.
Heartland Reps offers the full range of Thermo-Kool walk-in solutions. In addition, Bluezone® by Middleby is part of our portfolio. With a recent partnership between these two companies, today's foodservice operators can realize food waste savings like never before.
Bluezone by Middleby offers a revolutionary UV food preservation system that addresses the critical issue of food waste in commercial kitchens. This innovative technology uses ultraviolet light to eliminate 99.9% of mold, bacteria, and ethylene gas in refrigerated environments. By attacking airborne contaminants, Bluezone extends the shelf life of fresh produce by an average of seven to 10 days.
The system works by drawing air into a self-contained reaction chamber, where contaminants are destroyed by applying UV light. This process attacks ethylene gas, the primary driver of ripening and food spoilage. Bluezone units can be placed inside walk-in coolers, and with Bluezone by Middleby's partnership with Thermo-Kool, now it's easier than ever to source walk-in refrigeration with these capabilities.
Combining Thermo-Kool walk-in coolers with Bluezone UV food preservation systems offers a powerful solution to reduce food waste in commercial kitchens. Thermo-Kool's walk-in coolers feature industry-leading seals that keep cold air in and warm air out.
Bluezone's UV technology transforms that air by running it through an advanced UV filter, eliminating up to 99.9999% of mold, bacteria, and ethylene gas. This process extends inventory shelf life and reduces browning, softening, and spoilage.
Together, these systems improve operational efficiencies and reduce contamination risks for food and beverage operations of any size.
See the food waste reduction dream team in action. Schedule a visit with Heartland today.