From ugly food catering companies to poverty-aiding supermarkets, these surplus re-users don't know how to say no to some extras. And it's all for the better, of course, since many products whether it's food or leather materials goes to waste each and every day.
Surplus re-users don't simply make the production process a little easier on the planet and the pocketbook, however, they also make consumers breathe a little easier. For example, the Real Junk Food Project operates a pay-as-you-feel cafe where its delicious treats are provided on a donation basis much like a recent Panera Bread innovation, although, Panera certainly is a fairly bigger company and perhaps can cushion the blow more seamlessly if there are ever lulls in donation.
20 Surplus Re-Users
From Ugly Food Catering to Poverty-Aiding Supermarkets:
Social Business Editor — May 27, 2014 — Social Good
20
Stylish Recycled Military Bags
Sword & Plough Recycle Military Fabric with Aid from Army Veterans
19
Poverty-Aiding Supermarkets
This Social Supermarket Decreases Food Prices by 70 Per Cent
18
Seasonal Eco Eateries
A Better World Cafe Serves up Accessible Sustainable Food
17
Well-Wasted Cuisine
FoodCycle Uses Surplus to Feed Local Communities
16
Ugly Food Catering
Culinary Misfits Use Disheveled Fruits and Veggies to Cater Events
15
Delicious Munificent Munchies
Rubies in the Rubble Empower Women and Tackle Food Waste with Jams
14
Sustainable Development Business Groups
WBCSD Targets a World-Wide Future of Social Change
13
Waste-Powered Gardening
EcoScraps Turns Old Food into High Quality Soil Conditioner
12
Pay-As-You-Feel Cafes
The Real Junk Food Project in the United Kingdom Offers Services by Donation
11
Fresh Produce Papers
Fenugreen Keeps Fruits and Vegetables from Spoiling
10
Micro-Farms
Abalimi Bezekhaya is an Example of Bottom-up Entrepreneurship
9
Wasted Apple Beverages
Batlow Premium Cider Stems from the Australian Co-Operative
8
Seasonal Vegetable Deliveries
Growing Places Enterprise Makes It Easy to Eat Local and Organic
7
Fresh Perspective Posts
The Social Business Visit to the FoodCycle Cambridge Hub
6
Collaborative Creation Gigs
Good for Nothing Brings People Together for Fast-Track 'Doing'
5
Fruit Jerky Products
Snact Uses Surplus Food to Create Healthy Snacks Kids Will Love
4
Surplus Food Supermarkets
Community Shop is a Social Enterprise on a Pilot Program
3
Social Purpose Gardens
'Landscaping With Heart' Employs People with Mental Illnesses in Vancouver
2
Parisian Discount Markets
ANDES is a Small Grocery Store Offering Cheap Food for People in Need
1
Surplus Gift Collaborations
'Agence du Don en Nature' Works with Corporations to Redistribute
Related Ideas
Pop-Up Urban Microfarms
The 'GrowUp Box' Automatically Raises Fish and Plants in a Small Area
Calvin Kwok, Designer of STITCH & LOCKE (INTERVIEW)
How This Vegan Men's Wallet is Standing Out
Colorful Cardboard Accessories
Creazioni Zuri Creates Statement Recycled Paper Jewelry Pieces
Racy Superstore Editorials
Model Angie Shows Off Her Goodies in 'One Day with Me'
19 Food-Focused Social Enterprises
From Well-Wasted Cuisine to Ethical Gastropubs
Eco-Furniture Social Businesses
'Design by Pana' Offers Upcycled and Handmade Designs in Albania
Minimalist Organic Kitchenware
Food Work by Kristine Bjaadal is Part of a Larger Exhibit
Adorable Bovine Branding
Bio Organic Milk Packaging Features Cute Cows to Entice Consumers
Poverty-Aiding Supermarkets
This Social Supermarket Decreases Food Prices by 70 Per Cent
Seasonal Eco Eateries
A Better World Cafe Serves up Accessible Sustainable Food
Snug Styrofoam Sofas
The Moldable Chair Takes its Design from the Styrofoam That Covers Fruits
Fanatical Foodie Communities
Feast On It is a Toronto-based Collective of Shared Culinary Passion
Vegetable Tablet Holders
The Bleu de Chauffe 'Dejean' iPad Cover is Made of Natural Material
Frozen Grocery Supermarkets
Profi Rom Food in Romania is the First Store Made of Ice
Well-Wasted Cuisine
FoodCycle Uses Surplus to Feed Local Communities
Ethical Promo Products
Fairware Helps You Make Your Giveaways More Conscious
Chic Cardboard Light Fixtures
&Bros' Compleated Lamp is Making Recyclable Products More Designer
Customizable Paper Seats
Kids Can Draw Designs on the Kenno Recycled Cardboard Chair
Fashion to End Violence
My Sister's Closet in Vancouver Sells Vintage Clothes for Good
Ugly Food Catering
Culinary Misfits Use Disheveled Fruits and Veggies to Cater Events
Paper-Made Pooch Sculptures
This Art Installation by Will Kurtz Features Creative Dog Displays
30 Creative Compostable Creations
From Bodacious Biodegradable Kicks to Compostable PCs
Local Grocery Deliveries
Farm2Me lets You Browse Online and Get Goodies to Your Doorstep
Reviewed Green Products
Vine.com Offers Sustainable Product Delivery
Coffee Ground Mushrooms
'Back to the Roots' Turns Waste into Gourmet Ingredients
Tax-Deductible Travel
Roadmonkey is an Adventure Philanthropy Trip Company
Anti-Poverty Jewelry
'Me to We Artisans' Empowers Women & Promotes Tribal Style
Poverty-Focused Innovation Labs
Proximity Designs is a Myanmar-Based Non-Profit Enterprise
Artistically Organic Tees
These Samtana T-Shirts are Examples of Wearable Art
Waste-Powered Gardening
EcoScraps Turns Old Food into High Quality Soil Conditioner
Recycled African Bags
Colorful G-Lish Baskets Create Jobs and Clean up Ghana
Elevating Concept Trollies
The Drop Cart Adjusts in Depth Depending on the Weight of its Contents
Contemporary Recycled Eyewear
Eco Optics Offers Chic Styles That Are Made From Recycled Materials
Eco-Friendly Confetti
The Throw & Grow Confetti Turns into Flowers
Pay-As-You-Feel Cafes
The Real Junk Food Project in the United Kingdom Offers Services by Donation
Online Farmer's Markets
Farmingo Lets You Buy Locally Grown Produce Online
Social Business Funding Forums
Svp Fast Pitch Seattle is an Annual Competition
Online Foodie Marketplaces
FarmersWeb Connects Producers and Buyers in the NY Tri-State Area
Sustainable Bike Cleansers
Green Oil Produces 100% Biodegradable Bicycle Lubricants
Deliciously Priceless Bakeries
The Panera Pay-What-You-Can Cafes are Abolishing Hunger
Local Food-Sourced Events
Serendipity Catering Offers Seasonal Produce to Create Specialized Menus
Health Conscious Beauty Suppliers
Organic Pharmacy Stocks Products with Only Non-Toxic Ingredients
Sustainable Hand-Carved Sweets
The Taza Chocolate Company Uses Eco-Friendly Growing Methods
Mission-Made Communities
The Social Venture Network Brings People Together in the Name of Good
Strategists for Change
Junxion Strategy offers Social Purpose and Sustainability Management
Community Giving Sites
'A Little More Good' Helps Vancouverites Give Back to their Communities
Charitable E-Bakeries
Baking for Good is an Online Treat Service That Delivers Change
Wasted Apple Beverages
Batlow Premium Cider Stems from the Australian Co-Operative
Cooperative Banks
Rabobank is an Old Institution That Funds Sustainable Business
Sustainable Tourism Maps
Alastair Sawday Publishing Creates Travel Guides from Eco-Friendly Paper
Steampunk Gamer Lights
The Mario Bros Industrial Pipe Lamp Playfully Depicts Different Characters
Mission-Driven Food Distributors
Common Market Works with Local and Sustainable Farming
Glass-Making Bottle Stems
The Jabiru Creates Elegant Glassware from Cut-Out Receycled Bottle Tops
Alok Appadurai, Founder of Fed by Threads (INTERVIEW)
Providing Meals to Americans in Need
Sean McCormick, Founder of Manitobah Mukluks (INTERVIEW)
Seasonal Vegetable Deliveries
Growing Places Enterprise Makes It Easy to Eat Local and Organic
Fresh Perspective Posts
The Social Business Visit to the FoodCycle Cambridge Hub
Weekly Aquaponic Deliveries
Blacktop Bloom is a Social Enterprise and Urban Farm
Personal Development Diners
Ground Level Cafe Offers Training to At-Risk Youth in Toronto
Inclusive Nightclubs
'Star Enterprise Work and Play' is for People with Learning Disabilities
Jobs to End Homelessness
'Mission Possible' Helps Create Opportunities for Vancouver's Eastside
Youth Development Programs
The Spring Project is a Radical Employment Effort in London
Green Coal Options
Eco-Fuel Africa Works on Creating Sustainable Energy Technologies
Erik Spalding, Co-Founder of Bullets2Bandages (INTERVIEW)
Healing Jewelry Made of Real Ammo
Retractable Electric Scooters
The Acton M Scooter is a Carry-On and Fully Collapsible E-Scooter
Local Food Movements
SPUD.ca and SPUD.com Stock Your Fridge with Organic Groceries
Mission-Based Investing
'Renewal2 Investment Fund' Helps Foster Triple Bottom Line Success
Humanitarian Greeting Cards
100cameras Snaps Pictures of Children in Sudan for Its Latest Endeavor
Member-Driven Advocacy Organizations
The Community Alliance for the Ethical Treatment of Youth
Legal Advice for Farmers
Farm Commons is a Non-Profit Organization with Echoing Green Support
Zehra Abbas, Founder of YTGA (INTERVIEW)
Youth Troopers for Global Awareness and Studio89
Emissions-Free Delivery
GnewtCargo is a Logistics Organization Using an Electric Fleet of Vehicles
Social Exclusion Enterprises
The United Kingdom's 'Destiny Support' Seeks Out Engagement
Ethical Artisan-Empowering Organizations
Shopping for a Change is a Globally Minded Non-Profit
Daily Deals with Heart
Get Discounts on 'Karma Exchange' While Changing the World
David Auerbach, Founder of Sanergy (INTERVIEW)
Urban Slum Sanitation
Sanergy Turns Kenyan Toilets into Green Social Enterprises
Plant-Based Plastic Containers
NatureWorks' Sustainable Food Containers Use Ingeo Plastic
Snack-Securing Seals
The Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream Lock Protects Your Precious Pint
Festive Squash Hamburgers
The Burger King Pumpkin Burger is Only Available in Japan
Kind Community Catering
Potluck Cafe Offers Employment in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside
Debt-Countering Start-up Apprenticeships
Enstitute Matches Young Entrepreneurs with Founders
Sustainable Food Subscriptions
Door to Door Organics Delivers Fresh Natural Groceries to Your Door
Good Karma Web Dev
PICnet Offers Tech Services for Non-Profits and Social Businesses
Healthy Community Sales
'A Moveable Feast' Focuses on Arabs & Bangladeshis Who Live in SW1, London
Incentive-Based Recycling Programs
Wecyclers Uses Text Messaging to Create an Eco Point System
Education-Providing Apparel
Young Love Outfitters Captures the Hearts of the Residents in Africa
Iconic Movie Car Infographics
This Infographic Highlights Famous Cars of the Silver Screen
Street Youth Enterprises
SYJA Helps Vancouver's Young Homeless People Find Jobs
Waste-Powered Kitchens
Philips Introduces the Cooking Area of the Future
Surplus Food Supermarkets
Community Shop is a Social Enterprise on a Pilot Program
Youth-Led Coffee Shops
Studio 89, a Social Enterprise Cafe in Mississauga by YTGA
Sustaining Rural Development
Barefoot College Supports Professionals in the Majority World
Local Food Deliveries
Mama Earth Organics Lets You Choose Weekly or Bi-Weekly Produce Baskets
Women-Focused Health Technologies
Zubaida Bai's AYZH is an India-Based Social Venture
Regional Non-Profit Entities
TRADE is the Trust for Rural African Development and Enterprise
Talent-Focused Education
The Amani Institute is a 2013 Echoing Green Fellowship Finalist
Inside-Out Apartments
The Schiecentrale 4B Tower Boasts Protruding Closets on the Outside
Daniel Blake, Co-Founder and CEO of EcoScraps (INTERVIEW)
Turning Old Food into Organic Fertilizer
Sustainable Agro Advocacy
Agriculture for Impact is an Initiative Calling on European Government
Fair Trade Wine Pouches
'Palesa' Symbolizes Strength, Motherhood and Consciousness
Charitable Flash Drives
'Pass It On For Good' Wipes Your Computer and Helps You Donate It
Green Energy Upgrading Companies
'Effortless Energy' Invests in Homes and Shares in Savings
Community-Ownership Organizations
Plunkett Foundation Works in Rural Parts of the United Kingdom
Fair Trade Vino
Fairhills Wines is an Empowerment Project Started in South Africa
Ethical Sourcing Enablers
The Collaborative Group is a New Social Enterprise Out of Chicago
Sustainable Cottage Retreats
Bangors Organic is an Organically Certified Bed & Breakfast
Social Impact Fellowships
Echoing Green Offers Seed Funding for Visionary Entrepreneurs
Remote Agriculture Broadcasts
The Smallholders Farmers Rural Radio Supports Communities in Nigeria
Food Shortage-Fighting Apparel
Fed by Threads Donates Funds to Provide Meals for Every Item Sold
Sustainable Parcel Trucks
UPS Brown Vans Will Be Made of Composite Materials For Fuel Efficiency
Activist-Driven Neighbourhoods
'Thriving Communities' is an Alternative Way to See the World
James Murphy, Founder of KereKere (INTERVIEW)
An Aussie Social Enterprise Cafe With Heart
Rehab-Funding Mocktails
The Brink Liverpool is an Alcohol-Free Bar and Recovery Social Enterprise
Computer Cradle Campaigns
‘Saving Bletchley Park' is Restoring the Origin of the PC
Corporate Foods Collaborations
Grameen Danone Foods is an Example of What's to Come in Social Biz
Eco Celebrity Challenges
Four Celebs Are Putting You to the Test Ahead of World Environment Day
Worksite Information Forums
LaborVoices, Inc. Attempts to Foster Accountability and Transparency
Urban Farm Networks
Fresh City is a Toronto-Based Social Enterprise
Misshapen Produce Meals
The Feeding the 5,000 Initiative Sheds Light on Wasted Food