Brightly Announces First Verra Issuance of Carbon Credits for Rescued Food

Developed with Feeding America partner food banks and independent food rescue organizations, this first-of-its-kind project creates a new source of earned revenue to help nonprofit food rescue
organizations recover and distribute more food.

BOSTON, Sept. 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Brightly, a food waste and climate solutions company, today announced the first issuance of carbon credits under Verra's VM0046 Methodology for Reducing Food Loss and Waste. The first-of-its-kind issuance recognizes avoided methane emissions achieved when nonprofit food rescue organizations redirect edible food from waste streams back into the human food supply.

For Brightly and its food rescue partners, the issuance marks the first tangible outcome of a new pathway created by the VM0046 methodology to address two interconnected challenges: edible food going to waste and millions of people experiencing food insecurity in the U.S. Food loss and waste is responsible for an estimated 8–10% of global greenhouse gas emissions. By recognizing the climate value of food rescue, carbon markets can provide nonprofit organizations with additional revenue to recover and distribute more food.

"Brightly was founded on the belief that addressing climate change and hunger go hand in hand. This issuance transforms the extraordinary work of our food rescue partners into verified climate impact and a new source of funding to help them do even more," said Andy Levitt, Brightly founder and CEO. "I am deeply proud of what our team has achieved, and that this milestone can support the organizations on the front lines and the millions of people and families they serve."

The milestone represents more than three years of work led by Brightly in collaboration with the Feeding America network and independent food rescue organizations across the United States. Brightly built the project-specific data and measurement infrastructure needed to quantify the climate impact of qualifying food rescue at scale, in accordance with Verra's VM0046 methodology for quantifying the climate benefits of reducing food loss and waste. Food banks and independent food rescue organizations generate the underlying environmental benefits through their recovery efforts.

The project underwent independent validation and verification by SCS Global Services, an approved validation/verification body (VVB) in Verra's Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) Program, followed by Verra's review and approval and the issuance of the resulting Verified Carbon Units (VCUs).

These credits enable companies to support measurable climate action while creating a new source of earned revenue for food rescue organizations. The majority of net proceeds from credit sales will be returned to participating food rescue organizations, helping fund the trucks, drivers, refrigeration, staff and other resources needed to recover and distribute more food.

"Food rescue organizations have long understood that rescuing good food creates benefits beyond hunger relief. Food and financial donors to Feeding America partner food banks can now better understand the full impact of their generosity: nourishing neighbors while avoiding methane emissions associated with food that might otherwise enter waste streams," said Eric S. Cooper, president and CEO of the San Antonio Food Bank and a member of the Feeding America Board of Directors. "This milestone helps quantify that impact and creates an opportunity to attract new support for food rescue efforts. Ultimately, that can mean more food rescued, more families nourished and less food reaching landfills."

The issuance covers qualifying food rescue activity between March 2020 and December 2023. During that period, participating organizations rescued 15.3 billion pounds of food. After accounting for historical baselines and project-related emissions, 3.1 billion pounds of qualifying food rescue generated 721,649 Verified Carbon Units. The credits have received an A ex-ante rating from BeZero Carbon, an independent carbon ratings agency, indicating a high likelihood that each credit represents one metric ton of avoided greenhouse gas emissions.

Today, Brightly works with 198 Feeding America partner food banks and 28 independent nonprofit food rescue organizations, serving communities in all 50 states and approximately 97% of U.S. counties. Collectively, these organizations rescue and distribute more than 5 billion pounds of surplus food each year, demonstrating how this approach can drive impact at scale across communities and geographies. This national reach gives companies the opportunity to support climate and food rescue impact in communities where they operate.

Nearly 48 million people, including more than 14 million children, experience food insecurity in the United States, even as significant amounts of edible food go uneaten each year.

Brightly's Verra-issued credits will be available to companies seeking verified environmental value while supporting food rescue in communities across the United States. Companies interested in learning more can visit brightly.earth.

About Brightly

Brightly is a food waste and climate solutions company building project-specific data and measurement infrastructure to measure, manage and unlock environmental value across the food system. Its technology transforms complex food and supply chain data into measurable climate impact, with deep expertise in surplus food, food recovery and avoided emissions. Brightly enables food rescue organizations to participate in carbon markets by applying recognized carbon accounting standards and methodologies to measure avoided emissions and unlock new sources of environmental value. Learn more at brightly.earth.

About Feeding America

Rooted in the voices of neighbors facing hunger, Feeding America® unites the country to ensure everyone has access to food and a thriving future. We support tens of millions of people as part of a nationwide network of 250+ food banks, 20+ statewide food bank associations, 10+ regional co-ops and 60,000+ agency partners, food pantries and meal programs. Powered by leaders and volunteers embedded in local communities, we are one of the nation's most effective food distribution systems to drive immediate impact today and a catalyst for long-term change. Visit FeedingAmerica.org to learn more.

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SOURCE Brightly