Inside our recipe for change
Food waste offers one of the biggest solutions to the environmental crisis. At Matriark, we’re keeping delicious fresh vegetables and the resources used to grow them (land, water, labor, fossil fuels) in play so that we can reduce what goes to landfills—a major source of emissions. Our products are a solution to climate change that you can eat every day.
Upcycled produce can actually change the world
Upcycled vegetables are the main ingredients in our climate-friendly products. In our minds, upcycled produce—like the domestically-grown tomatoes in our pasta sauces and the carrots, celery and onion remnants in our food service products—are the unsung heroines of sustainable food.
By the numbers, every Matriark Foods product makes a big impact:
Upcycled Pasta Sauce
(18 oz)
0.4
pounds of vegetables diverted from landfill
50
gallons of water saved
37%
lower greenhouse gas emissions
Upcycled Vegetable Broth
(18 oz)
0.9
0.9pounds of vegetables diverted from landfill
102
gallons of water saved
2.2
pounds of greenhouse gases reduced
What is it?
Upcycled food products use ingredients that otherwise would not have gone to human consumption, are procured and produced using verifiable supply chains.
How does it work?
In general, upcycling describes the process of transforming by-products, materials that are unwanted, into new materials or products of better quality. In other words, upcycling is about doing more with what we have and elevating ALL food to its highest and best use: feeding people.
The Upcycled Impact
Upcycled foods save nutrition and resources from going to waste. They keep the energy, water, land and labor used to grow food — fully in the food system — for the benefit of the environment and people. Visit Upcycled Food Association to learn more.
“Matriark Foods: A social impact business devoted to changing the food system, Matriark Foods is proving that culinary convenience can still be achieved without all the waste. The brand upcycles farm surplus and fresh-cut remnants into flavor-packed pantry staples, like slow-cooked pasta sauces.”
A better supply chain from end to end
Our supply chain has nothing to hide! Follow the journey—from the farm fields and produce packing houses, to the processing and co-manufacturing facilities—you’ll find that we make sustainable choices at every single step along the way.
In partnership with Planet FWD, the leading climate management platform for consumer companies, we conduct scientifically rigorous, standards-aligned Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) for each of our products measuring carbon footprint to better understand the carbon impacts associated with each product, all of our ingredients and our packaging.
Meet our partners
At Matriark Foods, we believe that collective action adds up. Meet our partners in sustainability work:
At Matriark Foods, we’re growing the upcycled and sustainable food economy, where all food reaches its highest and best use. In partnership with Upcycled Food Association (UFA), our individual products and complete collection of pasta sauces are Upcycled Certified™ and meet the rigorous, high bar standards outlined in the world’s first product certification for upcycled products and ingredients. As a founding member and current board member of the UFA, Matriark Foods is proud to be one of 250 businesses in a global network working collaboratively to empower consumers to prevent food waste with the products they buy. Learn more about the Upcycled Food Association.
In partnership with Planet FWD, we leverage the largest Life Cycle Assessment databases for agricultural production systems to reduce our total carbon emissions. At Matriark Foods, we are committed to decarbonizing our supply chains and fighting the climate crisis. Visit Planet FWD to learn more.
Learn more about Tradewater.
Designed to meet rigorous sustainability, our packaging materials are Forest Stewardship Council (FSC®) Certified. The third-party verified FSC® seal ensures that all of our packaging comes from responsibly managed forests that provide environmental, social and economic benefits. The rigorous certification standards require strict adherence to criteria for biodiversity, worker safety and the rights of local and indigenous communities. Learn more at the Forest Stewardship Council.
Matriark Foods is a Business Member of 1% for the Planet, a global network with thousands of businesses and environmental organizations working together to support people and the planet. In partnership with 1% for the Planet, we are proud to support, donate to and collaborate with Glynwood Center for Regional Food and Farming. Learn more about 1% for the Planet.
We believe in expanding opportunities for women entrepreneurs. The Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) is a leading non-profit organization dedicated to helping women-owned businesses thrive. Matriark Foods is a WBENC-Certified Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE). As a Corporate Member in a network of 350+ corporations and government entities dedicated to the advancement of women-owned businesses, Matriark meets strict requirements as a women-owned business. Learn more about WBENC.