The goal of food waste reduction is to use items that might otherwise be thrown away in inventive ways to reduce the amount of food that is wasted. This involves "upcycling" leftover food, such as making chips out of vegetable peels or croutons out of stale bread.

You can also use imperfect produce; fruits and vegetables that are still nutritiously sound but have aesthetic flaws in smoothies, soups, and sauces. Since food waste makes up a large portion of greenhouse gas emissions, waste reduction is essential for environmental sustainability. 

Furthermore, a growing number of home cooks and professionals are rising to the challenge of zero waste cooking, which involves using every portion of an ingredient. In an effort to reduce hunger and promote sustainability, new businesses and apps are being developed to assist consumers and businesses in redistributing excess food to those in need.