Therm Launches Grocery-Driven Food Waste Diversion Carbon Credit Project

LAKE FOREST, Ill. --Therm Solutions, Inc., an award-winning driver of food supply chain decarbonization, today announced the launch of a first-of-its-kind food loss diversion carbon credit project targeting grocery stores to reduce food waste at its source. Listed on Verra’s VCS Registry, this innovative project will redirect edible food intended for landfill from more than 1,300 grocery retail and 18 food distribution locations spanning seven U.S. states to donation centers, addressing the nation’s urgent climate and food access crises.

The project expects to issue more than 112,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (mTCO2e) annually in carbon credits, generated from the avoided landfill emissions. These carbon credits incentivize grocers to increase edible food donations, offering a practical solution to a significant environmental and humanitarian challenge.

"Decarbonizing the food supply chain by targeting food waste at its source—grocery stores—is a major opportunity for both people and planet,” said Fritz Troller, CEO and co-founder of Therm. “Food waste is a complex problem for the industry, and historically grocers haven’t had a climate-friendly, cost-effective solution. Through carbon credits, Therm empowers grocers to adopt sustainable practices that benefit their operations, the environment, and the American people."

Food waste is a critical issue in the United States. In 2022, America wasted 38% of its food supply while 44.2 million Americans went hungry. When discarded in landfills, this wasted food generates methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Food waste also squanders the significant resources invested in the food supply chain, like electricity and water. As the world becomes more resource constrained, avoiding food waste is imperative.

Reducing food loss is particularly challenging for grocery retailers due to high costs of innovative solutions and disjointed supply chains. Transportation constraints, established processes, and logistical burdens have made discarding food easier and cheaper than adopting sustainable practices. Carbon credits offer critical incentives for the donation of edible food, bridging a massive gap in the grocery industry while also benefiting the communities in which they operate.

Therm believes grocers of all sizes have a role to play in addressing the climate crisis. From mom-and-pop stores to national chains, groceries across the United States are eligible for carbon credits and can generate them through various food waste reduction activities and climate-friendly refrigerant solutions.

These credits level the playing field for grocers nationwide. Therm is laying the groundwork for a new industry standard by making climate- and community-conscious action the smart business choice. Contact Therm today to learn how to participate.