Bob's Red Mill Focuses on Wasted Food Rescue and Materials Management

With the start of its sustainability program in 2021, the company measured its baseline and collected information on all materials flow. This data lets the company know what it is not yet diverting from the landfill and focus on improvement.

Bob's Red Mill employees intercepted product from the waste stream and were trained to identify donatable items.
Bob's Red Mill employees intercepted product from the waste stream and were trained to identify donatable items.
Photo courtesy of Bob’s Red Mill.

Committed to creating a sustainable future while inspiring joy with wholesome foods, Bob's Red Mill Natural Products fosters nourishing a healthy planet. One of the company’s main goals is reducing food loss from farm to fork through wasted food rescue. “By rescuing unavoidable scrap, we are avoiding climate emissions that would occur downstream,” says Julia Person, sustainability manager for Bob's Red Mill. “We donate food to local non-profits, as well as send inedible product to animal feed. Another way we are furthering this work is by joining the Pacific Coast Food Waste Commitment to collectively work with other food businesses to cut food waste in half by 2030.”

The Milwaukie, Ore.-based company's materials management focus extends beyond food waste to refuse, reduce, reuse, and recycle the maximum possible material flow at the plant, with a goal to reach zero waste. At Bob's Red Mill, wasted food rescue and materials management programs have helped reduce operations costs for the employee-owned company and have a positive impact both environmentally and socially in the local community.

“In 2021, we kept over 385,000 lb of edible food from going to waste, upcycled 2,293 tons as animal feed instead of landfill or compost waste, and recycled more than 1,600 tons of materials such as cardboard, plastic, metal, and wood,” states Person. “Our food donations help provide healthy, wholesome food to those in need in our surrounding community.” Through donations to the Oregon Food Bank network, Bob's Red Mill provided 161,521 meals to those experiencing hunger in 2021. It donated rescued food to four main organizations in the Portland, Ore., metro area—Oregon Food Bank, The Canby Center, Sunshine Division, and Gleaners of Clackamas County.


Read article   Smithfield Foods' Switch to Plastic Combos Is an Environmental Winner

Liquid Foods Innovations Report
Welcome to the inaugural Packaging World/ProFood World Innovations Report on liquid food packaging, drawn from nearly 300 PACK EXPO International booth visits (Chicago, Nov. 3–6, 2024). Our editors highlight the most groundbreaking equipment and materials—supported by video demos—that promise to transform how liquid foods are processed, packaged, and delivered.
Learn More
Liquid Foods Innovations Report
Dairy Food & Beverage Innovations Report
Discover cutting-edge packaging and processing solutions in the inaugural Packaging World/ProFood World Innovations Report. From high-speed filling machines to mono-material lids, see how the latest advancements from PACK EXPO International 2024 are driving safety, sustainability, and extended shelf life—shaping the future of dairy food and beverage packaging.
Access Now
Dairy Food & Beverage Innovations Report