Verra Registers First Project under Food Loss and Waste Methodology 

WASHINGTON – May 21, 2026 | Verra has registered the first project under its food loss and waste methodology, VM0046, to a project in the United States. The Brightly – Reducing Food Loss and Waste project (Verra Project 4711) works with nonprofit food rescue organizations to keep edible surplus food in the human food system and out of landfills, avoiding methane emissions that would arise from the disposal of unused food items. It is expected to support the rescue of approximately 167 million pounds of food over its seven-year crediting period (2020–2027) and the generation of ~115,118 tonnes of CO₂e in emission reductions.

Food loss and waste is responsible for 8 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, and the U.S. is the third-largest generator of food loss and waste in the world.

Verra’s Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) methodology VM0046 Methodology for Reducing Food Loss and Waste, v1.0 quantifies these avoided emissions and enables projects to generate high-integrity carbon credits, providing important finance for food rescue operations such as the ones Brightly supports. In this way, carbon markets not only advance vital climate action, but also support food security for those in need.

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Verra is a global leader helping to tackle the world’s most intractable environmental and social challenges. As a mission-driven nonprofit organization, Verra is committed to helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve livelihoods, and protect natural resources by working with the private and public sectors. We support climate action and sustainable development with standards programs and tools that credibly, transparently, and robustly assess environmental and social impacts and enable funding for sustaining and scaling up projects that verifiably deliver these benefits.