Fighting Food Waste Shouldn’t Be This Hard

Welcome back to It Shouldn’t Be This Hard!

In this episode, we’re digging deep into a crisis that’s hiding in plain sight: food waste. And why it’s one of the most overlooked drivers of climate change.

Our guest is Hilary Keates , Chief Marketing Officer at Divert , who has built a fascinating career path: from Citibank, to leading the launch of billion-dollar products at Gillette and P&G, to now helping tackle one of the most urgent environmental challenges of our time.

Hilary opens up about her most prominent career pivots, what pulled her toward climate work, and why every single one of us has a role to play in solving the food waste problem.

Keep on reading to discover what we discussed.

The Three Pivotal Moments That Shaped Her Career

Hilary shares the turning points that defined her professional journey:

• Finance as a foundation → Starting at Citibank, where she learned the fundamentals of P&L and business discipline.
• Marketing at scale → Leading the iconic Gillette Fusion launch, which became the fastest P&G brand to hit $1B in sales.
• Pivot to sustainability → Moving to Indigo Agriculture to support regenerative farming, and now at Divert, where she’s closing the loop by tackling food waste at the end of the supply chain.

Food Waste Is a Climate Problem

The stats will shock you:

• 1/3 of all food in the U.S. goes to waste each year.
• That’s 25 million tons of food = about $1,500 per household down the bin.
• Food waste contributes more to climate change than cars.

At Divert, Hilary is working with major retail partners like Kroger, Albertsons, and Safeway to:

1. Prevent waste before it happens.
2. Redirect surplus food to organizations like Feeding America.
3. Convert the rest into renewable energy instead of sending it to landfills.

Small Actions Add Up

Hilary believes real change starts with the everyday choices we make:

"I believe wholeheartedly that everybody can make a difference in the world and the small things you do can make big things. If everyone tries to make a change, even if it's a small change, we'll get there."

Advice for Sustainability Leaders

For anyone working in marketing or sustainability who feels overwhelmed, Hilary’s advice is simple:

“Trust your gut. It usually leads you down the right path.”

Reminding us that when instincts align, trust your decision-making.

Why Food Waste Shouldn’t Be This Hard

The episode sheds light on why food waste hasn’t yet captured the same public awareness as plastics or energy use even though its impact is massive. It’s a “job to be done,” and Divert is showing how both corporations and individuals can be part of the solution.

This was an energizing conversation highlighting the systemic impact of food waste and why solving food waste is one of the most powerful levers we have to fight climate change.

Tune in to hear the full conversation with Hilary Keates HERE. And don’t forget to subscribe! More grounded conversations are on the way.