Upcycled food is the process of reducing food waste, by using everything we have and elevating all food to the best use. Upcycled food is made of ingredients that otherwise would not have gone to human consumption, and are sourced and produced using verified supply chains, and have a positive impact on the environment. Upcycling food is increasingly becoming a starting point for new startups, while existing businesses are starting to look at the byproducts of their processes.
One example of the big FMCG players tapping into this opportunity, is the 2021 launch of Nestlé’s Nescafé Nativ, a cold coffee-like drink made from upcycled coffee berry husks. Another is the startup ReGrained, that since 2020 have been producing various grain products made with spent grain from beer production. As technology evolves and we’re learning more about how to use all parts of food, we are likely to see more inventions like these sprout.
