ReHarvest, First Domestic Food Industry Company to Receive B Corp Certification

Food upcycling company RE:harvest announced that it has obtained the B-Corp certification, the first in the domestic food industry.

The B-Corp certification is a global ESG evaluation index awarded by the U.S.-based nonprofit organization B-Lab to companies contributing to a sustainable society.

B-Lab reviews 180 items across five areas: governance, company members, community, environment, and customers, granting certification to companies that create social and environmental value. Only companies scoring above 80 points receive certification. Thousands of companies apply annually, but only 40% ultimately obtain the certification.

RE:harvest is a company that realizes the concept of a circular economy by upcycling nutritionally valuable byproducts generated during food manufacturing processes, minimizing waste, and maximizing resource utilization. Globally, 200,000 tons of food are lost or discarded, accounting for 30% of greenhouse gas emissions, which severely impacts the environment.

RE:harvest’s food upcycling converts food byproducts that would have been discarded into a high value-added raw material called ‘Rineer powder,’ establishing a sustainable circular system based on an eco-friendly business model.

Rineer powder, a raw material certified for eco-friendly green technology and produced through specialized patented processes, contains high dietary fiber and protein content. It is used not only to enhance the nutritional value of food but also in the development of eco-friendly materials such as bioplastics based on plant-derived ingredients. Environmentally, per 1KG of Rineer powder, carbon emissions are reduced by 11 KG, water usage by 3.7 TON, and byproducts by 3KG compared to regular wheat flour.

B-Lab recognized RE:harvest’s achievement in reducing carbon emissions, water usage, soil pollution, and discarded food byproducts through food upcycling, awarding the highest score in the environmental impact category.

Alexander Myungjun Min, CEO of RE:harvest, stated, “RE:harvest is continuously striving to advance food upcycling technology and diversify raw materials to create a sustainable planet,” adding, “As a member of the B-Corp certified companies, we will become a company that delivers better social and environmental impact.”