Why Goodr? Why Now?

The world is changing.

In September of 2019, millions of people from Manhattan to Mumbai, led by Gen-Z activists, took to streets around the globe to participate in climate strikes. Their chants, speeches, and signs delivered a powerful message to world leaders and communities alike: “do more to combat climate change — and do it faster.” In today’s society, every company should be trying to minimize their waste as even more people are pushing sustainable initiatives. In the United States, 40% of edible food is wasted every year. Not only do we waste more than the global average, but the amount of food wasted has tripled over the past 50 years, increasing at a faster rate than our population. Every year $218 billion worth of food in the United States is simply thrown away at a steep cost to wildlife and the environment. If the amount of waste were a country, it would be the third top emitter of greenhouse gas emissions after China and the United States. So food waste is a problem, a crippling one at that - and it’s something that everyone can play a part in solving.  

I founded Goodr in 2017 after years of feeding people experiencing hunger on the streets of Atlanta, GA. Goodr is a sustainable food waste management platform. We provide an end-to-end solution for businesses that are looking to reduce their waste, improve their bottom line, and empower their local community. Hundreds of companies have pledged to do their part in reaching the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) - but few are taking action, and the time for action is now. 

France was the first country to ban businesses from throwing away unused food in 2016. Businesses are encouraged to donate their surplus food to people in need and are fined if they don’t. Similar policies are being introduced in the United States in cities such as Austin, TX, Boston, MA, and throughout the state of California. With 58% of food waste coming from consumer-facing businesses, its a high probability that your business is contributing to the problem in some way.  

What sets Goodr apart from other companies is the way we combat food waste. Our platform provides logistics, analytics, and liability protection for businesses looking to earn tax deductions in exchange for their food donations. Our model aims to provide a triple-win situation: improving business’ bottom line through tax deductions, reducing greenhouse emissions from landfills, and using surplus food to fight hunger. Corporations have always had the option to redirect their surplus food and impact communities, but up until now, there hasn’t been a streamlined way of getting the job done. Unlike what has been done in the past, Goodr’s secure platform also provides an IRS audit-friendly donation record, real-time food waste analytics to help businesses reduce food waste at the source, and access community impact reports. Our app also produces a cost-benefit analysis for each user, showcasing how much the excess food was costing versus how much the company will receive in tax deductions. 

When you think of hunger, you may think it’s a distant problem that only affects people in other countries. But that couldn’t be further from the truth. One hundred thirty-three billion pounds of edible food is wasted in the US annually. Hunger is right here in our backyard.

Hunger is a problem. Goodr has developed a solution. 

If you’re interested in learning more, please visit us at Goodr.co.