Food waste reduction platform Flashfood has released its 2022 Impact Report, shedding light on the current state of food waste and the significant progress made in the past year.

The report highlights how reducing food waste at the retail level could aid in lowering greenhouse gas emissions and also "address the connected problems of hunger and food insecurity."

"We wanted this report to reflect the incredible impact of our retail partners," said president and COO Nicholas Bertram, in a statement. "These exceptional operators understand the fundamental link between hunger and waste. They see the opportunity that this massive problem has created, which is why they'll be the ones to help solve it – and win.

Flashfood and its retailers successfully rescued more than 28 million pounds of food in 2022. The platform boasted 2.9 million users who collectively saved more than $56 million as a result of their reduction efforts. The company added 325 new stores, expanding to six new states in the last year. 

Findings from a 2023 Harris Poll survey included in the report dove into consumer perception. Managing food waste is important to 88 percent of Americans who struggle to afford healthy foods. In addition to rising food costs, Americans expressed concern about the environmental impact of food waste. Three out of four said they believed that reducing food waste is important for solving climate change.

"Retailers play an especially important role because they sit at the center of the food system and have so much opportunity to influence the supply chain upstream and downstream," stated Dana Gunders, ReFED executive director.  "By implementing waste reduction solutions in their operations, retailers can not only benefit their bottom lines, but they can show their customers and partners what's possible."

Flashfood has played a pivotal role in reducing food waste by connecting consumers with discounted surplus food from local grocery stores. The report also emphasized Flashfood's extensive network of partnerships with major retailers. Through collaborations with prominent chains such as Meijer, Loblaw Companies Limited, and SpartanNash, Flashfood expanded its reach, making surplus food available to more consumers across North America.

Read the full report here.