Amazon backs Mill's AI food waste system to transform Whole Foods operations by 2027

Exclusive: Whole Foods to launch new AI food recycle technology. Here's what it does

Why it matters: The technology can shrink waste volumes by up to 80%, according to its maker, startup Mill, cutting greenhouse gas emissions from food waste and saving Whole Foods money. * "Waste is one of the largest sectors of the economy that most folks in our industry overlook," Mill co-founder and CEO Matt Rogers told Axios in an interview Monday. Driving the news: Amazon and Mill are partnering to roll out the bins across Whole Foods stores by 2027, the companies tell Axios exclusively. * Amazon, which owns Whole Foods, is also investing an undisclosed amount in Mill, founded in 2020. Follow the money: Mill has raised a total of $250 million since its founding 2020, the startup also shared exclusively with Axios. * In addition to Amazon, via its Climate Pledge Fund, other investors include Prelude, Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Lower Carbon, Energy Impact Partners and Google Ventures. The big picture: Food waste accounts for 8 to 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions and costs $1 trillion, according to the United Nations. Fun fact: At least in this system, the chicken wins the chicken-or-egg debate. * "This is something we've envisioned from the start: building a circular loop," said Rogers, who co-founded Nest, the smart thermostat company Google acquired in 2014 for $3.2 billion. "We pioneered this food waste -- to animal feed -- to egg pathway." Catch up fast: Until now, Mill has focused its business on homes and workplaces, selling a device about the size of a garbage bin. * This partnership represents the first move by the startup into grocery stores with a larger product equipped for more volumes. How it works: The machine dehydrates and grinds food scraps into coffee-ground-like material that can be composted or fed to chickens. * Mill's AI-equipped bins will allow Amazon -- and eventually other grocery stores and restaurants -- to analyze in real time what's being wasted. * "If all croissants are being thrown out, maybe they should bake fewer croissants," Rogers said. The intrigue: He predicts real-world applications like Mill's will ultimately determine whether today's AI hype delivers on its promise. * Rogers, who was a key figure in Apple's early iPod and iPhone products, said that eventually, society focused not just on those products, but the apps that live on them -- like AirBnb and Uber. * "The appetite for things that actually use AI is enormous," Rogers said. Reality check: Rogers noted that other companies have tried similar efforts. * "This is technically very difficult to build," he acknowledged. * It's seeking to overcome hurdles by ensuring it works within existing kitchen and trash rooms, and by offering real-time analytics powered by AI, Rogers said. What's next: Rogers said Mill will begin engaging restaurants as its next commercial customers "immediately."

Amazon, Mill Unveil AI-Powered Food Waste Fix For Grocers - Amazon.com (NASDAQ:AMZN)

Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) on Tuesday disclosed a partnership with Mill Industries Inc. to introduce a first-of-its-kind solution at Whole Foods Market stores aimed at reducing in-store food waste. Details Whole Foods will be the initial adopter of Mill Commercial, Mill's automated, high-capacity food recycling system. Beginning in 2027, fruit and vegetable scraps from back-of-house operations will be converted by Mill's technology into a nutrient-rich ingredient for chicken feed, supporting Whole Foods' private-label egg suppliers. Also Read: Patrick Mahomes Injury Puts Pressure On Amazon Stock: Will Viewers Pick 'Stranger Things' Over NFL? Also, Mill received an investment from Amazon's Climate Pledge Fund to support the rollout of this technology. This initiative represents the grocery industry's first in-store food waste conversion system, turning back-of-house scraps into chicken feed for Whole Foods' suppliers and creating a closed-loop solution. Whole Foods Market continues to lead in promoting responsible and sustainable grocery practices, aligned with its mission to nourish both people and the planet. This partnership also advances the company's goal of reducing food waste by 50% by 2030. Management Commentary "Until now, there has been no advanced technology solution to tackle the problem of food waste at commercial scale. With Mill Commercial, we are combining our innovative hardware with data and insights powered by AI to make it easier to dramatically reduce food waste in the grocery sector and beyond, turning what was 'waste' into a resource we can use," said Matt Rogers, Cofounder and CEO of Mill. "Utilizing Mill's intelligent, connected, and distributed infrastructure helps customers reduce food waste, scale a more circular supply chain, and achieve greater operational efficiency. We've been following Mill since inception and are thrilled to invest now to support the development and deployment of their commercial technology at Whole Foods Market and beyond," added Thomas Selby, Investor at the Amazon Climate Pledge Fund. AMZN Price Action: Amazon.com shares were up 0.03% at $222.60 during premarket trading on Tuesday, according to Benzinga Pro data. Read Next: AI Chipmaker Nvidia Just Released Open Source Models For AI Agents Image via Shutterstock AMZNAmazon.com Inc$223.150.27%OverviewMarket News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs