Carbon Credits for Avoided Food Waste Now Available
A new type of carbon credit, based on rescued food waste, is now on the market. Brightly, a startup company, has launched credits that support food rescue organizations.
Boston-based startup Brightly has introduced a new category of carbon credits linked to the amount of food waste rescued from landfills. These credits offer companies a way to reduce their carbon footprint while also funding organizations that prevent food from decaying and emitting methane.
Founded in 2023 by Andy Levitt, formerly of Purple Carrot, Brightly has secured partnerships with over 25 food rescue organizations, including Feeding America. The company's credits are the first of their kind to be issued under Verra's standard for reducing food loss and waste.
Food waste is a significant environmental issue in the U.S., with up to 40% of all food produced going to waste. Much of this waste ends up in landfills, where it generates methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Simultaneously, millions of Americans face food insecurity.
Brightly's model aims to address both problems. The company quantifies the carbon impact by collecting historical data from food rescue organizations to establish a baseline. Revenue from the credits then funds these organizations, enabling them to rescue and distribute more food.
While the carbon credit market has faced scrutiny for issues like greenwashing, Brightly emphasizes transparency. The company returns up to 80% of credit sale revenue to the food rescue organizations, supporting their operations and facilitating expansion.