“For Earth Day 2023, we need to act (boldly), innovate (broadly), and implement (equitably),” proclaims the EarthDay.org website. “Businesses, governments, and citizens — everyone accounted for, and everyone accountable.” That includes restaurants, which tend to have a significant environmental impact, both in terms of their day-to-day operations and the products they use. Each year, Restaurant Technology News recognizes some of the technology solution providers and organizations that are working to lessen the environmental impact of the restaurant industry in various areas. One area is food waste. According to ReFED, a nonprofit dedicated to ending food loss and waste by advancing data-driven solutions, and a winner of this year’s award, restaurants and foodservice businesses generated 12.9 million tons of surplus food in 2021, more than 85% of which went to the landfill or was incinerated as waste. Less than 1% of this surplus was donated – mainly because it’s more difficult to transport, store, and distribute food that is already prepared. [...]