The concept of “waste is food” is based on the idea that an industrial economy should not produce any waste except for biological nutrients that can be safely returned to the environment. This principle forms the foundation of the circular economy, a sustainable economic model that aims to eliminate waste and minimize resource use.

The “waste is food” approach is an example of systems thinking, which involves considering the interconnectedness and complexity of different systems. In the context of the global economy and the environment, this means recognizing that there are complex interactions between thousands of waste products and thousands of organisms. Therefore, to effectively address environmental issues, we need simple solutions that do not require a deep understanding of these complex interactions.