How Whole Foods creates a second chance for would-be food waste
Whole Foods Market Inc. follows a strong food waste strategy to prevent and divert food from entering landfill, mirroring what is proposed in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Food Recovery Hierarchy. According to Whole Foods, each store’s team members are thoroughly trained on food waste efficiency, from smart ordering to food donation best practices.
Food Industry Executive: Consumers Will Pay More for Products That Showcase Brand Values
Consumers don’t just support causes with their words — they’re also willing to put more of their money behind value-driven brands, according to the results Akeneo’s recent survey of 3,500 consumers in seven countries.
Sustainable Solutions
By partnering with family farms and the food and beverage industries, the anaerobic digestion facilities at Goodrich Family Farm repurpose unavoidable food waste into value for people and the planet. Building these farm-powered facilities on farms leverages the amazing synergies that exist between food waste recycling and regenerative agriculture practices.
This Food Gets Converted Into Energy
As much as 40 percent of the country's food supply gets thrown out. In Massachusetts, Vanguard Renewables, its farm partners, and companies including Whole Foods are combining that food waste with manure to produce renewable energy.
Un-Packaging the Food Recycling Revolution
Vanguard’s six facilities, located on dairy farms across Massachusetts and in Vermont, convert a combination of food waste and manure from farms into natural gas using a process called anaerobic digestion.
GreenBiz: Unilever, Starbucks are founding members in venture to turn food waste into energy
The promise of renewable natural gas is a sustainability win that has been financially and logistically out of reach for even the largest companies. Vanguard Renewables created the Farm Powered Strategic Alliance to start delivering on this promise for its founding members Unilever, Starbucks and Dairy Farmers of America.
Survey Finds Majority of Voters Support Initiatives to Fight Climate Change
A survey carried out after the November election found that 66 percent of respondents said that developing sources of clean energy should be a high or very high priority.
Food Waste Recycling Sees Setbacks During Pandemic
While zero-waste initiatives in the US gained momentum in 2019 and early 2020, myriad complications related to the pandemic brought many to a screeching halt. But as we transition from emergency mode, there have been restarts.
Vanguard Renewables and Partners Tap into Dairy Biogas for RNG
Vanguard Renewables is investing in both dairy manure only to renewable natural gas and co-digestion of food waste and dairy manure to renewable natural gas market options, At projects under construction nationwide they will make either electricity, heat, or transportation fuel. And it’s growing its network to pump up its feedstock supply while helping farmers cut greenhouse gas emissions.
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Starbucks, Unilever, DFA, and Vanguard Renewables commit to circular solution to food waste and GHG reduction launching Farm Powered Strategic Alliance GalleryStarbucks, Unilever, DFA, and Vanguard Renewables commit to circular solution to food waste and GHG reduction launching Farm Powered Strategic Alliance
Starbucks, Unilever, DFA, and Vanguard Renewables commit to circular solution to food waste and GHG reduction launching Farm Powered Strategic Alliance
Vanguard Renewables is thrilled to share with you that we just launched the Farm Powered Strategic Alliance (FPSA) along with our founding partners Unilever, Starbucks, and Dairy Farmers of America.
Vanguard Renewables Organics Recycling Facility Video Tour
In 2021, Vanguard Renewables will process nearly 500,000 tons of organic waste into renewable energy.
Vanguard Renewables officially opened its Organics Recycling Facility
Vanguard Renewables officially opened its Organics Recycling Facility in a private ceremony December 3, 2020 that included remarks from Chairman and CEO John Hanselman, Agawam Mayor William Sapelli, MA Senator John Velis, and MA Representative Nicholas Boldyga. Malaina Hudson, Director of Supply Chain Systems at Hillebrand Keg Pros, contributed remarks virtually.
Organics recycling facility opens in Agawam
Vanguard Renewables held a private outdoor ceremony Thursday morning to officially open its new Organics Recycling Facility. The advanced recycling facility will process expired goods, off-spec batches and any other food and beverages deemed unsafe to eat. The product is then moved to one of the company’s farm powered anaerobic digesters. The product is combined with farm waste and converted into renewable energy.
Farmers Benefit from Farm Powered Anaerobic Digestion
Farmers talk about the benefits of hosting a Farm Powered anaerobic digester on their farm including a diversified income stream to sustain the farm for future generations. They also reflect on overall benefits to the farm including regenerative agriculture best practices, increased crop yields and milk production, herd health, greenhouse gas reduction, manure management, and community relations.
Brewed Responsibly: How Smart Craft Brewers Are Cleaning Up Our Favorite Beverage
The immediate future offers a financial challenge for most brewers and distributors; but everyone from craft brewers to large factories can increase sustainability and protect their bottom lines through process efficiencies, more nimble supply chains and smart recycling solutions.
Growing Hemp With Digestate
After a growth trial in 2019, a Massachusetts CBD oil producer contracted with dairy farm in 2020 to grow 44 acres of hemp, fertilized with digestate.
Cutting Greenhouse Gases From Food Production Is Urgent, Scientists Say
Rising greenhouse gas emissions from worldwide food production will make it extremely difficult to limit global warming to the targets set in the Paris climate agreement, even if emissions from fossil-fuel burning were halted immediately, scientists reported Thursday.
Methane from manure: An income stream to consider
For all the challenges associated with manure, there’s a positive side to this organic substance, as a source of renewable energy that goes well beyond its traditional use as a fertilizer. Vanguard Renewables is working with dairy farms across the nation to solve organic waste disposal challenges, while at the same time producing renewable natural gas that will generate an income stream.
GreenLabs Recycling Sustainability Series: Vanguard Renewables
Vanguard Renewables featured in Green Labs Recycling's Sustainability Highlight blog, a recurring series featuring Massachusetts businesses with sustainability-focused missions.
Dairy Farmers of America Work With Vanguard Renewables to Feed Food Insecure Families
John Hanselman, Vanguard Renewables CEO and David Darr of Dairy Farmers of America talk about the Farmers Feeding Families initiative to help combat food insecurity on this podcast with U.S. Farmers & Ranchers in Action.
The Gas Industry’s Survival Plan: Make Fuel From Cow Poop
Fossil fuel companies think renewable natural gas is the answer to their PR problems. Environmentalists think not.
DFA aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 30% by 2030
As a cooperative invested in the dairy supply chain from farm to table, DFA is taking a strong position by setting a science-based target and committing to reduce both direct and value chain GHG emissions by 30% by 2030.
Virginia’s Dominion Energy is transforming itself into a renewable energy powerhouse
Dominion is working with startup Vanguard Renewables, which deploys manure to renewable natural gas systems at dairy farms.
Feeding Families in Need: Renewable Energy Companies Enter the Mix
As U.S. food assistance programs grapple with overwhelming demand during the coronavirus pandemic, some in New England are finding support from unusual partners—renewable energy companies.
Turning Manure Into Money
When Randy Jordan, a fifth-generation dairy farmer in central Massachusetts, looked into turning manure from his 300 cows into natural gas more than a decade ago, he just wanted to find a way to lower his increasingly painful electric bill.