No doubt convenience, uniformity, and speed are high priorities when it comes to corporate procurement. Before you board the express train, take a moment to investigate the alternatives and consider a different route – the local route. It's likely when a corporation implements a buy local/shop small strategy, the common challenges are the FOUR Cs: Contracts, Chaos, Capacity, and Costs. Read our tips for overcoming these.

I am passionate about the concept of 'buy local' (and supporting small business and social enterprises). I often find things (products, souvenirs, services, restaurants, shops…) that even the locals I'm meeting with hadn't heard about. It's part research, part serendipity. I'm using the same map app they are. I don't have any special feature that says "show me the awesome local stuff." It takes setting an intention and going about your search in a specific way…

After a food waste training session, there was such excitement among staff to participate that they almost had a "too many cooks in the kitchen" situation. The confusion of having so many people involved led to a refinement in process, definitions of waste, vessels, etc. and clarification of roles so that everyone can add value.

In this blog, Joseph While (former Astrapto intern) explores biodiversity. “I like to think of nutrition diversity as your personal health stock portfolio: Create a hedge fund for your health by investing in as many diverse nutritious foods as you can. You are more likely to protect yourself as an investor in your own health, the more diverse you make your nutrient portfolio.”

In this blog I feature the work of two social entrepreneurs I mentor, both working to promote biodiversity and alleviate poverty and hunger. One is a beekeeper who protects pollinators in China and the other is exploring innovative and practical ways to sustainably farm high protein, edible insects in Africa.

In this blog, I highlight a great conversation with someone who knows a thing or two about ugly produce. Sure we all know we should be willing to eat them to reduce food waste but it’s not always that simple when you’re facing the unspoken rules and unwritten policies governing commercial kitchens.

In 2018, Astrapto led a food waste reduction initiative in Baltimore, Maryland. This project, sponsored by World Wildlife Fund, and thanks to the leadership of the Baltimore Convention Center, resulted in significant food waste reduction efforts and new, creative partnerships to improve food sustainability in Baltimore events.