SGS and The PLEDGE Join Forces to Fight Food Waste

So, here’s the scoop—SGS, the global testing and certification giant, just teamed up with The PLEDGE, a nonprofit pushing for less food waste. And people are asking: what’s really behind this partnership? Is it just another greenwashing move, or does it have some real meat? Look, down on the ground, food waste in the U.S. is staggering—about 30-40% of all food produced, according to the USDA, gets thrown away every year. That’s billions of pounds wasted, millions of dollars lost, and a heap of environmental damage.

The Partnership and Its Impact

Now, SGS entering this space isn’t just about checking boxes. They’re offering certification programs that promise to verify companies’ claims on reducing food waste. It’s like a badge of honor for brands wanting to look good in the eyes of consumers who are increasingly woke about sustainability. But then again, how much of that is real change versus just good marketing? I don’t give a damn about empty promises anymore.

On the other hand, The PLEDGE has been working directly with local communities, food banks, and businesses to turn waste into something useful—be it donations or composting. Their approach is practical: connect the dots, people! Reduce waste at the source, repurpose what’s left, and make sure it benefits the people who need it most. That’s exactly what I think we should be prioritizing.

BTW! If you like my content, here you can see an article I wrote that might interest you: Turning Waste into Products in the U.S. Food Industry

Standards and Skepticism

By the way, they also say that the partnership aims to create standards that companies can follow easily. But let’s be honest, standards are easy to set. The real test is whether companies stick to them when no one’s watching. And here’s where I get skeptical. Because if you look at this, what’s the incentive? Money? Reputation? Or genuine concern? I think maybe it’s a bit of all, but mostly marketing.

What they’re not telling folks is that food waste is deeply embedded in our supply chains and consumer habits. It’s not just about a certification; it’s about changing minds and systems. And that takes more than signing papers. It takes action, real action, from farmers to retailers, right down to your dinner plate.

The Real Challenge and Takeaway

So, what’s the takeaway? Well, partnerships like this can be a good start. They put a spotlight on an ugly problem. But don’t get fooled into thinking a badge or a pledge will solve it all. You gotta ask yourself: are these efforts leading to cleaner forests, healthier communities, less landfill? Or are they just good PR?

Here’s a practical tip: if your business or community is serious about cutting waste, look for genuine commitments. Ask for transparency. Demand to see data on actual waste reduction—not just promises on paper. Because at the end of the day, what matters is the human cost—people who go hungry while food gets tossed away, and the environment paying the price.

Final Thoughts

So, what do you think? Are these partnerships making a difference, or just giving us a nice story to tell? Drop your thoughts below, read more about this stuff, and keep questioning what’s real. We owe it to ourselves, and to the planet, to look beyond the surface.

Elena Ramirez

Elena brings to The Forest Blog a humble and sincere perspective on the changes that occur around ecology every day. She loves nature and therefore her care for it, but her real care, not allowing politics to break the reality of environmental care. Based on her extensive experience as a director of non-profit organizations and leader of social enterprises. Focused on the direct impact of ecological narratives on communities. Speaks to the human consequences and business impact that are often overlooked in official reporting, demanding attention to the real lives affected.