National Rendering Day – April 21
National Rendering Day is a National Day that is observed every April 21st to recognize the sustainabiltiy and reduced food waste benefits of agricultural rendering, and to recognize those in the rendering industry. The inaugural National Rendering Day was observed April 21, 2023. On that date, NARA and National Day Calendar issued a proclamation recognizing that National Rendering Day will be celebrated every 21st of April.
The date of April 21st was specifically chosen to fall on the day before Earth Day (April 22) to represent the sustainable nature of the rendering industry and its contributions to food waste reduction and environmental protection.
Read the press release here
About Rendering
North Americans consider roughly 50% of an animal to be inedible. This leaves a lot of leftover material that ends up as food waste. Rendering reclaims this otherwise wasted material, such as protein, bone, and fat and even includes used cooking oil (UCO) from restaurants. The rendering process safely, hygienically, and sustainably processes that unused material (the meat we don’t eat) into new products and goods so nothing is wasted. When we render material we process it in a safe, hygienic, and sustainable manner. In addition, we convert what would have been food waste into material for use in a multitude of new products such as nutritious pet food and animal feed, industrial goods, and biomass-based diesel. In short, rendering is recycling.
Rendering also demonstrates respect and resourcefulness for the livestock that were raised with care by farmers. In fact, rendering shows respect for the animal itself by using every part of the animal so nothing goes to waste. Additionally, by offsetting the environmental impacts of animal agriculture through rendering, we shrink our food production footprint.
#NationalRenderingDay
By celebrating National Rendering Day on April 21st, we bring awareness to the act of reducing and eliminating food waste through rendering. On National Rendering Day we urge the larger community to learn more about what rendering means, how the rendering process works, and why using rendered products is the sustainable choice for consumers.
National Rendering Day is also a great way to show appreciation for those in the rendering industry, and to recognize and celebrate rendering’s many environmental benefits, and its important role in reducing food waste and overall sustainability.Help us spread the word by sharing this exciting news on social media using hashtag #NationalRenderingDay and please tag NARA in your posts.
Download the National Rendering Day Social Media Toolkit
Information for NARA Members
We urge NARA members to spread the word about this important day by issuing your own press release, posting about National Rendering Day on all your social media platforms with hashtag #NationalRenderingDay and tagging NARA in your posts.
To best assist you with these suggestions we have curated a special toolbox with a template press release, list of suggested social media posts, and access to the National Rendering Day logo for download. To access these helpful tools first Log In to the Members Only section of the NARA website then select Member Toolkit from the green “Members” menu at the top right.
We are excited to celebrate National Rendering Day with our members and the larger community! We look forward to hearing how you, and your organization choose to celebrate this important day.
By publicly observing National Rendering Day we bring awareness to the act of reducing and eliminating food waste through rendering. National Rendering Day is also a great way to show appreciation for those in the rendering industry, and to recognize and celebrate rendering’s many environmental benefits.
For more information or questions, please contact NARA’s Vice President of Communications, Anna Wilkinson.
