Projects

THE CIRCULAR FOOD LAB

In the U.S., over 40% of food is wasted every year, amounting to $400 billion in lost value. This waste doesn’t just impact wallets—it impacts our planet. As food rots in landfills, it releases methane, a greenhouse gas 86 times more potent than carbon dioxide.

Globally, 8–10% of climate emissions come from food waste alone. Yet, while food is wasted daily, millions still lack consistent access to meals.

The Circular Food Lab is where we prototype new models for food access, climate action, job creation, and economic reinvention—all rooted in dignity and design.

We go beyond food recovery. We're building a fully integrated system that turns surplus into opportunity, and waste into value.

WE KNOW IT STARTS AT THE SOURCE

Food waste doesn’t begin at the plate—it starts at the farm due to various reasons. While our current model focuses on recovering surplus that’s already entered the marketplace, we know agricultural innovation must be part of the solution. We’re building relationships with growers, co-ops, and food hubs to explore upstream interventions that reduce waste from harvest onward. As our lab expands, so will our efforts to close the loop from soil to table—and back again.

Rescue Surplus Food

We recover food across the supply chain—from unharvested crops at farms, to “ugly” but edible produce at markets, to excess from events, universities, commercial kitchens, and local businesses. Whether safe for human consumption or not, we identify the best next use.

Redistribute Surplus

For food that’s safe to eat, we create new distribution pathways rooted in dignity and convenience. Think: temperature-controlled vending machines, public food lockers, parcel delivery, and on-campus distribution.

Reimagine Waste

Food that can’t be consumed isn’t discarded — it becomes the start of something new. We transform it into energy, upcycled products, and compost, closing the loop and laying the groundwork for future innovations in climate resilience and resource reuse.

THE CIRCULAR TABLE

Our team is working to deliver meals to fire-impacted communities using rescued food and commercial kitchen partners. We chose to provide prepared meals not only for their nutritional value, but because many food banks carry a social stigma—causing some to opt out entirely—and a significant percentage of recipients don’t know how to prepare the raw ingredients they receive, leading to waste at home, which is the largest source of food waste in the U.S.

Join efforts with us.

NEXT UP IN THE CIRCULAR FOOD LAB:

We're actively developing and seeking support to bring the following into reality:

🍴 Public education events
🍲 Upcycled food products created from rescued ingredients
🌱 Smart vending machines that serve fresh, affordable produce + meals
⚡ Waste-to-energy innovations turning scraps into power
🎓 K-12 + College school meal reinvention
🧑🏽‍🍳 Youth Upcycling Fellowships combining food, fashion & circular design

GET INVOLVED- BE THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO SEE

Building a circular food future takes all of us. Whether you’re ready to fund what’s next, bring your expertise, or contribute resources, we welcome aligned collaborators to help move this work forward with care, innovation, and integrity.

For Funders
Help scale what’s working—or invest in what’s next. From supporting our current pilot to seeding future efforts like smart vending, upcycled products, or youth fellowships, your support accelerates solutions built to last. Please send all inquires to val@goodsameritan.org.

For Potential Partners
We are seeking nonprofit partners to co-create systems that close the loop on waste, access, and community wellness. Please fill out this form to be added to our database.

For Fellows + Experts
We’re growing a network of doers, thinkers, and cultural disruptors. If you bring lived experience, research insights, or sector-specific skills, we want you helping shape what’s possible. Connect on Linkedin with a note.

For In-Kind Contributors
From ingredients and kitchen access to delivery tools and data systems—your contributions fuel the pilot and expand our impact. Let us know how you’d like to plug in by sending an email to val@goodsameritan.org.

For Volunteers
The best way to stay up to date on current volunteer opportunities is to join our newsletter.

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