Design Research
Service Design
Facilitation
Reducing Food Waste
A Case Study On Chicago
A Behavioral And Systems Design Approach
This project demonstrates the application of systems thinking and stakeholder engagement to address complex urban sustainability challenges, highlighting the importance of collaborative, data-driven approaches in driving meaningful change.
Role- Researcher | Systems Mapper | Strategy Developer | Facilitator
Tools- Stakeholder Mapping | Service Blueprints | PEST Analysis | Process Maps
Duration- 14 weeks (Before October 2023, when City of Chicago launched its first citywide composting program)
Challenge
Identifing current barriers and future opportunities for food waste reduction, reuse and recycling in Chicago’s food service industry.
Goal
Our goal was to identify system inefficiencies, propose practical solutions, and engage stakeholders to advance Chicago toward a waste-minimized, sustainable future.
Desired Impact
Aligning city officials, businesses, and community organizations to create actionable strategies for a sustainable, waste-minimized Chicago.
Food waste is not just an environmental issue; it’s a social and economic one, especially given the stark contrast between food scarcity and waste.
24%
of All Solid Waste is Food in the United States
30%-40%
of countries food supply goes to waste
This 66.3 M tons wasted food dumped in the landfills leads to food insecurity and imbalance in the social and economic structures by disproportionately leading to financial profits which sit squarely with the waste management industry and landfill owners. Community members lose land value and the political power of impacted communities is further reduced as a result.
In Chicago itself 55 M pounds of Food Waste From the Food Retail, Foodservice, and Residential Sectors Is Sent to Chicago City Landfills. Leaving many hungry.
19%
of Chicagoans Facing Food Insecurity
29%
of Chicagoans in Latinx Communities Facing Food Insecurity
37%
of Chicagoans in Black Communities Facing Food Insecurity
If we were able understand the reasons for the misalignments in the processes and other reasons for waste we can save multiple household from food insecurity.
This vast amount of wasted food in a city where many experience food insecurity highlights an urgent need for systemic change. Addressing these inefficiencies in how food is produced, distributed, and consumed is essential—not only to reduce landfill waste and greenhouse gas emissions but also to reallocate resources in ways that support communities and promote sustainability.
Approach
Systems Thinking
Mapping complex food flows from production to waste management
Examining relationships between diverse stakeholders
Identifying system inefficiencies
Considering both macro-level dynamics and micro-level behavioral factors.
Human-Centric Design
Stakeholder engagement through facilitated conversations
Analysis of user behaviors and preferences
Customizable options for diverse user needs.
Continuous feedback mechanisms for improvement
Evidence Based Design
Literature review on consumer behaviors and food waste interventions
Context-specific tailoring to Chicago's unique urban environment
Iterative refinement based on ongoing evaluation of real-world outcomes
Process
Barrier
Competing priorities across supply chain
Barrier
Competing priorities across supply chain
Food Matters Think Tank 1.0
(A Convening-Identifying Priorities & Barriers)
We started our project with the food matters think 1.0. It was a convening of diverse stakeholders, hosted by Auburn Gresham Healthy Lifestyle Hub. This was to understand and map out the varied priorities and barriers of the diverse stakeholders. We facilitated conversations with groups of stakeholders representing: City of Chicago & Policy, Food Service & Retail, Food Rescue & Community Organizations, Food Scrap Recycling.
Barrier
Competing priorities across supply chain
Priority
Strengthen stakeholder relations and engaging community
Barrier
Inconsistent flow of data
Priority
A roadmap for effective wasted food management
How might we align stakeholders to streamline knowledge sharing and help reduce waste in Chicago?
"
No existing policy on separating organic waste from other solid waste.
-city Official
Understanding our partners- City of Chicago
(One-on-ones with city officials)
Diverting food waste from landfills is a complex challenge requiring system-wide collaboration. Over ten weeks, we mapped food and waste flows in food service, capturing insights and priorities from project partners.
Our visualizations facilitated knowledge sharing, identified potential partnerships, and highlighted gaps, fostering collaboration. By focusing on waste reduction, food rescue, and recycling, we provided a comprehensive view of intervention points.
Analysing the gathered knowledge
Synthesising the knowledge gathered from all the three partners
The Final Roadmap
And the Derived Insights
Policy complexity hinders practical sustainability efforts in food waste management.
Communication gaps between city management and stakeholders challenge transparency and accountability.
City policies often misalign with the actual needs of citizens and organizations, requiring adaptable solutions.
Food service organizations face systemic challenges in sustainability, highlighting a need for increased support and resources.
Food Matters Think Tank 2.0
(A Convening-Identifying Priorities & Barriers)
After mapping the system and understanding our partners' needs, we began preparing for the second think tank. During this session, we brought together all partners to explore critical questions, such as: How can composting solutions be made accessible and adaptable for every household in the city? and What strategies can effectively engage food businesses in food rescue while reducing barriers?
Facilitating a discussion between policymakers and food activists was an eye-opening experience. Historically, these groups have often operated in silos, but our workshop aimed to bridge this divide. Through these dialogues, we gained valuable insights into the operational dynamics of various organizations.
The Opportunity spaces that arose
1
PLATFORMS FOR COLLABORATION & KNOWLEDGE SHARING
What if there were platforms showcasing successful food waste reduction case studies in Chicago?
2
DATA AS ENABLER
What if the food data was bade more adaptable and flexible to address the dat gaps and accommodate needs of diverse stakeholders?
Learnings
Support collaboration by providing resources and opportunities for community-driven problem-solving
Incentivize sustainable choices and expand access to resources
Support collaboration by providing resources and opportunities for community-driven problem-solving
Develop policies for further adoption of existing good practices and clear, transparent regulations
Impact
Through two think tanks and mapping exercises, we aligned our partners, the City of Chicago and NRDC, with community-driven organizations to explore shared goals and potential pathways. These activities helped identify gaps and deepen understanding of existing challenges through visualizations.