From Waste to Plate: Assessing Upcycled Food’s Benefits through an Engaging Poll

Upcycled food—innovative products made from ingredients that would otherwise go to waste—is steadily gaining attention as an impactful approach to sustainable food systems. By using by-products, surplus, or imperfect produce, the upcycled food movement contributes to waste reduction and resource conservation, advancing the broader goals of environmental sustainability. With upcycled ingredients finding their way into products like snacks, beverages, and even pet food, these solutions aim to minimize waste, conserve resources, and lower carbon emissions, aligning with global sustainability efforts.?

To gauge the industry's perceptions of upcycled food benefits, a recent poll engaged 600 participants to answer, “Which benefit of upcycled food do you find most impactful?” The provided options were reduces food waste, conserves resources, lowers emissions, and promotes sustainability.?

Food Waste Reduction Leads in Appeal?

With 63% of votes, reducing food waste emerged as the leading benefit of upcycled food. This aligns with growing awareness about food waste management and its environmental impacts. According to a 2020 study published by Our World in Data—publishes research and data to make progress against the world's largest problems—food waste is responsible for 6% of the global greenhouse gas emission. 2024 Estimates from the World Food Program highlight that about one-fifth of all food produced for human consumption is wasted globally, amounting to approximately 1 billion meals a day. Transforming what would otherwise be waste into valuable products allows upcycled foods to address one of the largest inefficiencies in the food system while also reducing landfill contributions. Projects utilizing upcycled ingredients are poised to significantly impact waste recycling , creating new opportunities within the circular economy.?

Moderate Support for Resource Conservation?

Receiving 16% of votes, resource conservation ranked second among perceived benefits. Given that food production is water- and energy-intensive, repurposing food by-products can alleviate the demand for fresh resources. For example, a 2021 study published by the Frontiers—one of the a leading research publishers—estimated that halving food loss and waste could reduce the global water footprint by nearly 12–13%, improving water availability for approximately 720 million individuals globally. This emphasizes the potential of resource savings of upcycling practices.??

Emission Reduction Benefits Recognized?

Emission reduction earned 11% of the votes, indicating that while important, emissions impact may not be the primary motivation for some stakeholders. However, research underscores the environmental significance of upcycled food for emission reductions. According to Project Drawdown, eliminating food waste could reduce global emissions by up to 88.50–102.20 gigatons by 2050. By using upcycled ingredients, the food industry could help prevent methane emissions from decomposing food waste in landfills, a critical aspect of sustainable food practices.?

Promoting Sustainability?

Another 10% of participants selected "promotes sustainability" as the primary benefit, showing a steady interest in the holistic impacts of upcycled food. Many see upcycling as a critical component of regenerative practices, which aim to establish circular systems in food production. Research from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation in 2023 highlighted that food businesses, together with its Food Waste Hubs, in Milan donated their surplus food to needy citizens through NGOs, which saved 130 tons of food from waste, the equivalent of 260,000 meals. Such initiatives make upcycling an essential pathway toward a more sustainable and resilient food supply chain.?

?AMR’s Verdict?

The poll results indicate a strong preference for reducing food waste as the key benefit of upcycled food, with resource conservation and sustainability also highly valued. The findings highlight growing support for upcycled food as a low-impact, sustainable option that reduces waste, saves resources, and mitigates emissions. With rising demand for sustainable choices, the upcycled food sector is set to grow, using innovative ingredients to create a circular, waste-free food system.?

For more detailed insights and expert analysis on the potential of upcycling food, feel free to contact our team of analysts .?