In a bid to tackle the staggering issue of food waste in restaurants, buffets, and caterers, a new generation of AI-enhanced garbage bins is gaining traction.
Companies like Leanpath Inc., Winnow Solutions Ltd., and Orbisk B.V. are leading the charge with innovative trash cans equipped with smart cameras, scales, and sometimes touchscreens. These sophisticated systems meticulously catalog discarded items, capturing details such as the type of food and its preparation status—cooked or chopped.
The primary goal is to curb the significant environmental and economic impacts of food waste. In 2022 alone, the world wasted a staggering 1.05 billion tons of food, generating emissions nearly five times that of the aviation sector, according to the United Nations Environment Programme. A substantial portion of this waste, approximately 290 million tons, emanated from the food service industry.
Andrew Shakman, CEO of Leanpath, reflects on the industry’s past acceptance of food waste as a norm: “When we started in 2004, food waste was simply part of doing business. It was a costly oversight that nobody challenged.”
Leanpath’s waste-tracking technology is already deployed in over 4,000 kitchens, including prestigious locations like Google offices, Marriott hotels, and university dining halls. Their systems, featuring scales and touchscreens, enable chefs to categorize discarded food by type, reason, and time, among other criteria. Some models incorporate smart cameras to visually track food waste accumulation. Last year alone, Leanpath claims to have saved 15 million meals from being discarded, preventing 55,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions.
Meanwhile, Dutch startup Orbisk is pioneering waste reduction aboard Carnival Corp.’s cruise ships. Traditional methods like smaller buffet plates had limited success, prompting Carnival to adopt Orbisk’s waste calculators. These systems use cameras and scales to pinpoint sources of waste previously unnoticed. For instance, early findings revealed that chefs at Carnival’s Bonsai Sushi outlets were discarding significant amounts of cucumber peel, while their burger bars were disposing of unfinished fries excessively.
Despite their potential, AI-driven systems face challenges. Schalkie Badenhorst, Food Operations Director at Carnival, notes limitations in distinguishing between different cuts of meat, which could offer cost-saving insights for restaurants.
Moreover, these technologies may not fully address waste generated by takeaway customers, which accounts for a substantial portion of food service waste. Dana Gunders of US nonprofit ReFED highlights that 70% of such waste results from uneaten food that customers take away.
Implementing AI-driven waste management systems also presents logistical and financial hurdles. While Orbisk’s systems cost between $2,000 and $8,000 annually, depending on customization, affordability remains a concern for smaller establishments. Winnow offers a tablet-only solution targeted at smaller kitchens, while Leanpath refrains from disclosing its pricing.
Despite these challenges, advocates within the industry champion AI technologies as crucial tools in reducing food waste. “Chefs are passionate about minimizing waste and ensuring that their culinary creations reach diners,” observes Hamish Forbes, Senior Analyst at NGO Waste and Resources Action Programme. “AI offers a promising pathway to alleviate this burden.”
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