Two new projects from Guelph are aiming to join businesses across Ontario in the circular food economy.
On Thursday, Smart Cities Office and partner organizations launched ReSource Exchange and the Circular Economy Digital Passport.
Both projects are part of the Circular Opportunity Innovation Launchpad (COIL), which launched in April. COIL is an organization which funds a range of programs that accelerate circular enterprises, launch innovative demonstration projects and help inspire new circular collaborations across the food and environment sectors.
A release says ReSource Exchange will enable companies to post their food waste, byproducts and coproducts that would normally be thrown away for other businesses to use.
David Messer, COIL manager, explains food businesses across the supply chain currently spend considerable amounts of money to send waste materials to landfills.
“ReSource Exchange will help surface these materials and create new business-to-business collaborations in our region that further our goal of creating a circular food economy across our region,” he said.
Participating businesses on ReSource Exchange can also sell excess space, tools and equipment for profit, or make a donation to local food-relief organizations. Businesses looking to join can do so here.
With the digital passport, businesses can showcase their commitment to a circular food economy through digital stamps created by the app, which highlight achievements by the organization that can be shared across different social media platforms.
The program can also connect businesses with circular economy programs, resources and experts who can help them transition into a zero waste business model. To learn more, click here.
“The digital passport is a new and innovative way to connect and support businesses as they work to adapt their business models to align with the circular food economy,” says Anne Toner Fung, CEO of Innovation Guelph, in the release.
“By engaging with the digital passport process, businesses will learn what it means to be circular, connect with like-minded businesses, learn about opportunities and drive change within their own organizations. In the end we want to see businesses thrive and add value to the community through the circular food economy.”
