The ocean is closer than you think
It's in your lunchbox
Your lunchbox, your sandwich, the wrappers and even your shiny apple are connected to the ocean and are inspiring innovations from people reimigining how we grow, transport, consume and throw out our lunch
Tuna fish sandwich
The tuna in your tuna fish sandwich might come from sources that are not well-known. Some fishing methods catch other ocean animals, including sea turtles and endangered species.
Saildrone is on a mission to keep an eye on industrial fishing practices and to collect data to help protect the ocean
Peanut butter sandwich
Growing peanuts benefits other plants because they add nitrogen, which helps their growth, but soil health and crop management are fertile areas for innovation. Soil and water systems are connected. What flows off farms can end up in rivers, and eventually the ocean
Indigo AG helps protect food security for the future
All those wrappers for snacks and treats
The packaging in bars and desserts outlasts your lunch by years. Many packages have a plastic film coating that is not easily recyclable and often ends up in landfills or as waste that can make its way into rivers and the ocean
Notpla
And what about leftovers?
Have you noticed the waxy coating on apples?
It helps food last longer. Without it, much of what we eat would spoil before it reaches us. Still, about one-third of all food goes to waste
As food breaks down, it releases emissions. Some of that waste moves through water systems and eventually reaches the ocean
Apeel Sciences is creating plant-based coatings that help fruits and vegetables stay fresh longer, reducing food waste
Apeel - Plant-based protection inspired by nature
Meet innovators reimagining the lunchbox
Apeel Sciences was founded by scientists in a garage "on the promise of developing safe, sustainable solutions that extend the shelf life of fresh produce, making it more accessible to consumers and reducing food waste around the world"
The scientists
James Rogers, Jannie Du, Lou Perez
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Could we help retain peak flavor, texture, and nutrients for longer without reliance on refrigeration, pesticides, waxes, or plastics?
The researcher
David Perry
David Perry is the founding CEO of Indigo Agriculture, a leader in sustainable agtech. He has launched multiple life-science companies focused on agriculture, food, and health innovation
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We put nutrients back in plants so they need less fertilizer and agricultural chemicals to thrive
The engineers
Pierre Paslier and Rodrigo García González
Founded Notpla with the mission to make plastic waste disappear
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On a mission to make single use plastic packaging disappear
The designer
Sandra Ann Harris
In 2008, Sandra was a mom worried about toxins in plastic and the overflowing trash bins at her kids' preschool. When she couldn't find a plastic-free lunchbox, she decided to design one herself
Before starting ECOlunchbox, Sandra worked as an investigative journalist and humanitarian aid worker. She used her research skills to learn about materials and supply chains. This helped her find high-quality stainless steel and non-toxic silicone to replace plastic
With curiosity and creativity, there is nowhere you can’t go
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The artist
Klaus Pichler
One third of the world's food goes to waste - and 925 million people around the world are threatened by starvation
The series ‚ 'One Third‘ describes the connection between individual food waste and globalized food production. Rotting food, arranged into elaborate still lifes, portrays an abstract picture of food waste, while the accompanying texts take a more in-depth look at the roots of this issue
The leaders
Ben Simon, Imperfect Foods
Abhi Ramesh, Misfit Market
Innovating supply chains
Do you see 'ugly' apples in your cafeteria? Most likely not, because most stores reject fruit that isn't "perfect"
Ben Simon set out to change this as a student at the University of Maryland, founding the Food Recovery Network in 2011 to rescue surplus food from campus dining halls. He later founded Imperfect Foods to bring that mission to the mainstream
In 2022, Imperfect Foods merged with its biggest competitor, Misfits Market, founded by entrepreneur Abhi Ramesh. Abhi’s "aha!" moment came while apple picking. He realized farmers were throwing away 20% of their harvest for purely cosmetic reasons. He used his background in tech and finance to build a direct-to-door delivery system for "misfit" produce
Misfit Market and Imperfect Foods created the "ugly food" space. In 2025, their combined forces rescued 27 million pounds of food, bringing their all-time total since 2018 to a staggering 265 million pounds of food diverted from landfills
The trash can is full of inspiration for innovation
The leader
Sambhav Agarwal, Sortify
Innovation for recycling
Does your pizza box go in the paper recycle bin? What about your coffee cup? Seeing people throw items into the wrong recycling bin inspired Sambhav Agarwal to use AI to help sort trash correctly. This matters because food-contaminated items, like a greasy pizza box in a paper trash can, ruin the whole batch
Sambhav’s team developed an AI-powered camera that attaches to recycling bins. As you throw out your leftover lunch and packaging, the AI identifies it and tells you in real time which bin it belongs in
While AI cameras in recycling trash cans in cafeterias become common, low-tech can help sort things out
See it: Is it greasy?
If there is oil soaked into the pizza box or the salad container, trash it
Hear it: Does it crinkle?
Scrunch plastic wrappers in your hand. Is it crinkly? If it is, trash it. It has plastic coatings that are not recyclable
Feel it: Is it heavy?
If the container is almost empty, rinse it or trash it. Food contaminates the whole recycling batch.
Who inspires you the most?
A scientist? A designer? An entrepreneur?
If you know you care about the ocean, but you're not sure what field is best for you, take a quick quiz to help you see where you might fit right in
Are you more of a scientist or a researcher? A designer or an artist?
See who inspires you
The ocean is closer than you think
so is your opportunity to reimagine it
How we grow, transport, consume, and throw out our lunch has a deep impact on the ocean. Whether it's the fishing practices that affect the ocean's ecosystem or how leftovers end up in landfills, ideas for innovations are as close as your next sandwich, salad or trash can
Reimagine your lunchbox and your trash can as a lab, a movement or a new company
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Reimagining starts with creativity