The Future of Upcycled Foods: A Chat with Lydia Oxley from Renewal Mill

In this episode of the Made to Sustain podcast, host Kelly D'Amico welcomes Lydia Oxley, president of Renewal Mill, to discuss the innovative world of upcycled foods. Lydia shares insights on the mindset shift within the food industry toward using upcycled ingredients, the mission and successes of Renewal Mill, and the role of organizations like the Upcycled Foods Association. The conversation also covers the various challenges and opportunities in incorporating upcycled ingredients into delicious and nutritious products. Lydia highlights the importance of re-evaluating food waste and turning it into valuable commodities within the food system. Listeners will gain a deeper understanding of how upcycling contributes to a more sustainable food industry and the exciting developments happening in this space.

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Episode Highlights

00:00 Introduction to Sustainable Choices

00:28 Guest Introduction: Lydia Oxley from Renewal Mill

00:43 Podcast Overview and Topics

01:52 Welcoming Lydia Oxley

03:21 Lydia's Role and Renewal Mill's Journey

04:16 Understanding Upcycling and Its Benefits

07:25 The Process of Upcycling Ingredients

12:28 Surprising Upcycled Ingredients

16:11 Challenges and Opportunities in Upcycling

19:17 Building Trust with Manufacturing Partners

20:04 Challenges in the Oat Supply Chain

20:54 The Value of Upcycled Ingredients

21:37 Consumer Perception and Education

28:18 The Role of the Upcycled Food Association

32:58 Creating a Sustainable Food System

35:26 Innovative Uses of Upcycled Ingredients

38:30 Final Thoughts and Mission

39:45 Conclusion and Farewell

Shareable Quotes

“Wasting less is just about seeing a lot more value, beauty, and, deliciousness where other people haven't even looked yet.”

 ”There's a big tendency right now, especially within media, to have kind of like clickbaity articles or even like titles of different things that allude to a Trash to Treasure Narrative. For us, it's really the opposite, and Really every other upcycled brand. I know, it truly is the opposite because if you're going to be upcycling from within the manufacturing industry, you are working with the cleanest facilities ever because they're already producing food that we eat every day. , so the side streams, waste streams, waste does not necessarily mean dirty. There is no food waste, only wasted food. So we are really touching like pristine premium sources of nutrition that we're able to work with in this manufacturing.”

“We're using everything in the food system. And what a joy it is, to figure out unique ways to use something. And so I think that's really how we, we view the system as being just a little bit more digestible for us.”

Episode Links:

Shop Renewal Mill

https://refed.org/

Imperfect Foods

www.MadetoSustain.com

In the inaugural episode of the Made to Sustain podcast, host Kelly D'Amico explores the critical sustainability trends to watch in 2024. With over eight years of experience in the food industry, Kelly delves into regenerative agriculture, upcycling, biodegradable packaging, traceability, and the importance of sourcing local ingredients. She emphasizes how these practices contribute to a healthier planet and more nutritious food. The episode also tackles heavy topics like human rights and deforestation, ending with a discussion on mindful consumption. Tune in for expert insights and actionable tips to make sustainable food choices.

Table of Contents

00:00 Introduction to Sustainable Food Choices

00:29 Meet Your Host: Kelly D'Amico

01:40 Key Sustainability Trends for 2024

02:06 Regenerative Agriculture: A Farming Philosophy

04:07 Upcycling and Circularity: Reducing Food Waste

05:19 Biodegradable and Plastic-Free Packaging

06:37 Traceability and Transparency in Food Sourcing

12:16 Human Rights and Ethical Sourcing

13:53 Addressing Deforestation Concerns

15:16 Mindful Consumption: A Holistic Approach

16:50 Conclusion and Future Episodes

The Made to Sustain Podcast

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🌐 Visit my website, madetosustain.com for more resources and blog posts on sustainable food choices.

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Happy listening!

Join Kelly D’Amico, MBS, to on the journey to make sustainable food simple. Kelly runs a food sustainability blog called Made to Sustain, which spreads awareness about the actions that individuals and companies can take to contribute to a more sustainable food system.

New episodes coming out every week, starting in June!

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