Whirlpool Debuts New Zera Food Recycler on Indiegogo

Whirlpool Corp. announced the release of the Zera Food Recycler, a kitchen appliance that turns food waste into fertilizer. The Zera system debuted at the Consumer Electronics Show and is available for pre-orders on Indiegogo

This product converts a week’s worth of food waste into ready-to-use homemade fertilizer within 24 hours. 

“Zera Food Recycler brings a purposeful innovation to consumer kitchens, and delivers on an increasing demand for more environmentally-driven solutions for the home,” said Jennifer Bonuso, Senior Director, CPG & WLabs. “We know Americans are looking for easier, more efficient ways to recycle food scraps, and the Zera system makes that possible. We’re excited to bring this offering to consumers and Indiegogo is a great platform to do so, allowing us to connect with consumers in a new and compelling way.”

Zera Food Recycler can break down one week’s worth of the average U.S. family’s food waste within 24 hours by using a combination of oxygen, moisture, heat and mixing to expedite the decomposition process.  Unlike traditional composting methods, families are able to use the Zera system year-round regardless of the weather and can remotely operate the appliance through the Whirlpool mobile app.

According to a study on food waste commissioned by Whirlpool, an average family in the United States produces over 400 pounds of food waste every year, which accounts for an estimated 20 percent of America’s landfills. With Zera Food Recycler, families are now able to reduce the food waste that goes to landfills, while also creating sustainable fertilizer for their outdoor lawns and gardens.

“Whirlpool Corporation is one of the rare iconic companies that has remained incredibly innovative year after year,” said Slava Rubin, founder and Chief Business Officer of Indiegogo. “It’s an honor to help them unveil another amazing product. The value for companies like Whirlpool Corporation using Indiegogo isn’t simply being able to raise funds through the platform, but being able to connect directly with its customers and receive immediate feedback on new products.”

The first 50 backers who order the Zera system through Indiegogo will receive the product at an initial Super Early Bird discounted rate of $699. Starting early summer 2017, the Zera system will be available in limited test markets through participating retail partners including TreeHouse and Williams-Sonoma. The Zera system will also be available for purchase online at select retailer sites and on Zera.com, and will retail for $1,199 MSRP.