Grocery stores in the US produce about 16 billion pounds of unsold food each year. The majority of this food is perfectly safe to consume. The article explains how food waste often results from food that spoils quickly, stores being unable to predict what customers will purchase, a lack of employees to manage inventory, and people often misinterpreting date labels. All of this food waste costs stores over 30 billion dollars and harms the environment by filling landfills and creating greenhouse gases. Since shoppers now expect stores to be more sustainable, cutting food waste is becoming both a smart business move and a way to help the planet. 

The article describes three main solutions that are growing in popularity in 2026. First, donating extra food, next, composting or using anaerobic digestion for food that can’t be eaten, and finally, selling surplus food through apps like “Too Good To Go.” (publisher of this article) Donations help feed local communities, composting keeps waste out of landfills, and surplus marketplaces let stores earn money back by selling “Surprise Bags” of leftover items. One store, Permberton Farms, saved over 12,000 meals and made nearly $48,000 using this system. These strategies show how stores can reduce waste, support their communities, and improve their operations at the same time. 

https://www.toogoodtogo.com/en-us/blog/2026-grocery-food-waste-solutions