Environmental Stewardship
Reducing Food Waste. Protecting the Planet.
We are environmental stewards – Our food rescue system transforms excess into access for our community, reducing waste and fostering a sustainable food system.
As one of our core organizational values, we are environmental stewards. We believe that rescuing food is one of the most practical, immediate ways to reduce waste, conserve resources, and build a more sustainable food system.
Every day, thousands of pounds of perfectly good food go to waste while many of our neighbors struggle to access nutritious meals. Hole Food Rescue exists to change that.
Our food rescue system transforms excess into access, rescuing surplus food from our local grocery stores, bakeries and coffee shops and then distributing this food freely to our community six days a week through our no-cost grocery program, Food for the Community / Comida de la Comunidad.
FOOD RESCUE NOT ONLY FEEDS OUR COMMUNITY - IT ALSO PROTECTS THE ENVIRONMENT.
Food Waste Is an
Environmental Challenge
Food waste is one of the largest contributors to unnecessary greenhouse gas emissions.
When food is thrown away, all of the resources used to produce it—water, farmland, energy, labor, fuel, and packaging—are wasted as well. Once food reaches the landfill, it decomposes and produces methane, a greenhouse gas significantly more potent than carbon dioxide.
12%
of the U.S. energy budget is wasted on producing food that's never eaten
52%
of U.S. land use goes toward growing food that ultimately goes to waste
80%
of U.S. fresh water consumption is tied to agriculture and food production
38%
of all food produced in the U.S. is wasted every year
Our Food Rescue Model
Rather than throwing away surplus food, Hole Food Rescue efficiently redirects this food directly to our community. Six days a week, we meet people where they already are: at apartment complexes and community hubs like the Senior Center and the Teton County Library.
Our Food for the Community / Comida de la Comunidad no-cost grocery program is open to anyone, no registration required. These programs operate like farmer’s markets without any financial transactions. This direct-to-community model focuses on reducing barriers like time, location, language, and choice.
This approach strengthens the entire local food system by ensuring that edible food fulfills its purpose—feeding people.
Prevents edible food from becoming waste
TRANSFORMING EXCESS INTO ACCESS
Food should feed people — not landfills.
Reduces landfill disposal
Avoids unnecessary greenhouse gas emissions
Conserves the water, land, energy, and labor invested in producing food
By addressing food insecurity and food waste together, Hole Food Rescue creates solutions that are both environmentally and socially impactful and sustainable.
Increases food access for our neighbors
Measuring Our Environmental Impact
Every pound of food rescued represents resources conserved and waste avoided. Through our rescue operations, we track pounds of food rescued and diverted from landfill, alongside estimated resource equivalents such as metric tons of carbon emissions avoided, gallons of water saved, and number of meals' worth of food provided to our community.
3,765,416
POUNDS OF FOOD RESCUED SINCE HOLE FOOD RESCUE’S START
2,197
metric tons of carbon avoided
3,137,846
meals provided to our community
269,000,000
gallons of water saved
5,591,960
miles driven by gas-powered vehicles avoided
These metrics help us evaluate our impact, improve our operations, and demonstrate measurable outcomes to partners, funders, and donors.
296
homes' worth of energy use for a year
Why Environmental Stewardship Matters
Food rescue is one of the most immediate and cost-effective climate actions communities can take.
Unlike many environmental initiatives that require new infrastructure or technology, food rescue makes better use of resources that already exist.
By recovering edible food before it becomes waste, we simultaneously:
Improve food security
Reduce environmental impacts
Strengthen community partnerships
Support a more circular and resilient local food system
THIS IS ENVIRONMENTAL
STEWARDSHIP IN ACTION.
Our Commitment
At Hole Food Rescue, environmental stewardship is not a separate program—it is woven into every day of food rescue operations.
Every pound of food distributed represents food that feeds people, not landfills.
Together with our volunteers, supporters, food donors, partners, and community members, we are building a food system that values people, resources, and our environment.
RECOGNITION
Hole Food Rescue is proud to be recognized as a Sustainable Business Leader, Jackson Hole’s regional green business recognition program. Additionally, Hole Food Rescue opts into Lower Valley Energy’s Green Power program.
