There’s big money to be made if you’re game enough to look in the places no-one else is looking. Especially if that place is trash cans, wastelands or other areas most entrepreneurs choose to avoid. But there is a gold mine waiting to be found in the gutter. And not only is it better for the planet and infinitely sustainable, it’s also scalable. Not to mention, consumers care about strong environmental practices with more intensity than ever before. Here are some of the businesses, big and small, that are finding clever ways to cash in on our waste.
Create Value Through Story, Not Just Product
Imperfect Produce is a business that sells the fruit and vegetables tossed aside One third of all food is wasted in food production and consumption systems. Entocycle are on a mission to solve this. By upcycling food waste back into the food chain. They do this One of the biggest culprits of excess waste are large companies. They buy in bulk, buy in excess and are often left with more than they need. Re-Plate identified this problem, specifically with companies that cater meals for their employees. Each day, excessive amounts of food are left over, ready to go to waste. Armed with this insight, Re-Plate created a service to collect the surplus and distribute it to communities in need. This solved a real need for the businesses, who otherwise had to identify how to dispose of the food – a disproportionately cumbersome undertaking in light of complex health regulations. Re-plate charge the companies that they pick up the food from, who can right it off as a tax deduction.
See Opportunity In Waste Products
While wandering around food markets in China, IKEA founder Ingvar Kamprad was mesmerized by the rows and rows of plucked and strung chickens. He then made an enquiry into what happened to the feathers, only to discover that the farmers paid someone to come and remove and burn them once the chickens had been plucked. Kamprad swooped in and offered to take the feathers off the farmer’s hands for free. Of course, the farmers were delighted, but so was he as he could now offer feather duvets and pillows for a fraction of the cost. By investigating a waste product, Kamprad managed to source the key material for one of his best selling items for free.