Amazon’s Climate Pledge Fund Backs Food Waste Startup Mill in Major Whole Foods Deal

The food waste startup Mill has announced a major partnership with Amazon. The deal will place Mill’s technology inside Whole Foods Market locations nationwide. This initiative will begin rolling out in 2027.

Amazon’s Climate Pledge Fund is also investing in Mill. The exact investment amount was not made public. This move signals a significant corporate push to tackle grocery store food waste at its source.

How Mill’s Tech Aims to Slash Supermarket Waste

The core of the plan involves Mill’s smart bins. These bins will be installed in the produce departments of Whole Foods stores. They use sensors to track exactly what food is being thrown away.

This data is crucial for stores. According to Axios, Mill has raised $250 million to date to develop this system. The information helps managers order more accurately and reduce overstock.

The impact on store operations could be substantial. Food waste is a massive financial and environmental drain for grocers. Reducing it directly improves a store’s bottom line and carbon footprint.

Turning Scraps into Feed in a Circular Loop

Mill’s process doesn’t stop at data collection. The bins also dehydrate and grind the discarded food waste on-site. This creates a shelf-stable material that is easy to transport.

That material has a specific second life. It will be turned into chicken feed. This feed will then be sent to farms that supply eggs for Whole Foods’ private label.

This creates a closed-loop system within the supply chain. Waste from the stores helps produce food sold back in the stores. It represents a practical model for circular economy principles in action.

This partnership between Mill and Amazon marks a high-profile test for scalable food waste solutions. The success of this food waste startup model in Whole Foods could set a new industry standard for grocery sustainability.

Thought you’d like to know

What does Mill’s technology actually do?

Mill’s bins are placed in-store to collect food scraps. They use sensors to identify waste patterns and then dehydrate and grind the material. This turns it into a base for animal feed.

When will this start at Whole Foods?

The national rollout is scheduled to begin in 2027. This gives both companies time to scale up manufacturing and integrate the systems. The initial deployment will focus on produce departments.

How big is the grocery food waste problem?

It is a massive issue. A 2014 USDA study cited by Reuters found U.S. grocery stores toss about 43 billion pounds of food yearly. That represents roughly 10% of all food in the supply chain.

Why is Amazon investing in this?

Amazon’s Climate Pledge Fund targets companies that can reduce carbon emissions. Cutting food waste directly lowers greenhouse gases from landfills. It also aligns with the sustainability goals of their Whole Foods subsidiary.

Where does the processed waste go?

The processed food waste is converted into chicken feed. This feed is specifically directed to farms that supply eggs for Whole Foods Market’s private label products, closing the loop.