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c reating a future with zero food waste an ILLINOIS LAUNCH startup. WHAT IS ZERO PERCENT?. a simple, holistic system to help food businesses move surplus inventory in their operations through donations or deals locally, in real-time. WHY THIS MAKES SENSE?.
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creating a future with zero food waste an ILLINOIS LAUNCH startup
WHAT IS ZERO PERCENT? a simple, holistic system to help food businesses move surplus inventory in their operations through donations or deals locally, in real-time
WHY THIS MAKES SENSE? Food Waste: 30% of all produced food $10b worth of annual waste at restaurants only • Environmental:Greenhouse gas (Methane) emissions • Societal: Severe food insecurity and hunger • More than 15% households in US • Poverty: more than 20% in Champaign county
WHY THIS MAKES “CENTS”? How important is it that “places to eat” use the following sustainable practices? “Disposing food waste in an environmentally-friendly way” 72% Unilever Food Solutions – Global Research
WHY THIS MAKES “CENTS”? How much you agree with this statement? “I would pay more for meals in places that are implementing food waste/disposal schemes to limit food waste and adverse environmental impact” 47% Unilever Food Solutions – Global Research
EXAMPLES • Supermarkets mark down prices of surplus inventory close to expiration • Panera Bread saved ~ $10 million* through its “Day-End Dough-Nation” program at 1400 locs. • * additional tax benefit. • Darden heavily advertises its “Darden Harvest Program” for donating surplus food • Many others such as Chipotle, Starbucks, YUM!
Feature # 1- DONATIONS zero hassle. zero cost.
HOW DONATIONS WORK? • Donor posts info about the donation • Product, pick up times, any special requirements • Requires between 20 and 50 seconds • System automatically finds a local, best-fit* agency that will pick up the donation • Through text message conversations • Best-fit*: agencies that observe these guidelines • http://zeropercent.us/biz/foodsafety.pdf • http://www.cityharvest.org/donate-food/donation-guidelines
DONATIONS - IMPORTANT CONCERNS • Tax Deductions? Possibly. • Liability -> None! • Federal Law to protect food donors • Good Samaritan Food Donation Act of 1996 • Bad rep -> Unlikely! • We work directly with registered agencies • e.g. local Salvation Army, Daily Bread Soup Kitchen • .. who typically have a food-handling license • .. and follow the donation safety guidelines
Feature # 2 - DEALS Post deals on surplus inventory for nearby consumers (a completely optional alternative for cutting waste) zero hassle. zero printed coupons.
APP-TO-APP EXPERIENCE Time to post: ~30s
CURRENT STATUS • Pilot run for 6 months in Urbana-Champaign • Restaurants and Cafes Einstein Bros Bagels, Great Harvest Co, J.Gumbo’s, Sbarro, Intermezzo Café at Krannert Center, Bo Bo China, One World Pizza, Papa Dels • Six community agencies are participating • More than 3000 pounds rescued • Hundreds /week now
USAGE EXAMPLES • Einstein Bros Bagels, Urbana • Dozen (surplus) bagels at 50-70% off • During the slow 3-5 pm • Leftover bagels posted as donation • Crepe Delicious, Illini Union, Urbana • Discount surplus pre-prepared empanadas • Donate surplus or imperfectly shaped empanadas J Gumbo’s, Urbana (Cajun and Creole cuisine) • Package and Donate surplus from previous night
INTERESTING FACTS - DONATIONS • More than 90% donation pick up rate • Compared to ~75% for standard scheduled donations* • Real-time No commitment Even on weekends! • Real-time Donations with very short shelf-life • Reduce “food waste shift” through (fair) rotation among participating agencies • Technology? Even your grandma can do it! • Donation receipts can be automatically generated * Conversations with Food Rescue, Indianapolis, GM Einstein Bros Bagels Urbana
WHAT’S IN IT FOR ZERO PERCENT • Cost? Free for the mission • User app will always be free • Donations (non-monetary) will always be free for businesses and community agencies • Advertising • Sell brand merchandise (t-shirts, fridge magnets)
LOCAL & NATIONAL PRESS “In US, there’s a lot of food being wasted” – The Washington Post “Eliminating Waste through Donations” – WAND-TV NBC http://www.wandtv.com/global/Category.asp?c=182814&clipId=7436333&topVideoCatNo=99891&autoStart=true “Zero Percent Champaign” – News Gazette Sunday Paper (print only) “Zero Percent Vs. The World” – Smile Politely Champaign http://www.smilepolitely.com/food/zero_percent_versus_the_world/ “Zeroing Out” – John Bloom, Author American Wasteland http://www.wastedfood.com/2011/10/03/zeroing-out/
WITH FEEDBACK & ADVICE FROM • Dr John Clarke, Illinois Launch, U of Illinois • Holly Elmore, Elemental Impact • Julie Menter, Blu Skye • Craig Goldford, Operation Food Search, St Louis • John Williamson, Food Rescue, Indianapolis • DrIrfan Ahmad, CNST, U of Illinois • IGBA • U of Illinois Research Park
www.zeropercent.us Rajesh Karmani rajesh.karmani@zeropercent.us (217) 778-5660 creating a future with zero food waste