Wellness at CookUnity: Better for you, better for the planet

At CookUnity, wellness goes beyond nutrition. It is about living with presence, making mindful choices, and honoring the interconnectedness between our bodies, our communities, and the planet. We believe that every meal is an opportunity to nourish ourselves and to contribute to something greater.

As part of Climate Week NYC 2025, we are bringing this philosophy to life with an event titled:

“Wellness at CookUnity: Better for You, Better for the Planet”

📍 CookUnity Brooklyn Rooftop

📅 Tuesday, September 23 | 3–6 PM

This event brings together chefs, partners, and thought leaders to explore how we can all cook and live with greater care.

Planet FWD x CookUnity: Climate action at the ingredient level

Our partnership with Planet FWD began with a simple, bold question: how can we measure and reduce the carbon footprint of our meals, starting with what goes into them?

Using Planet FWD’s decarbonization platform, we conducted ingredient-level life cycle assessments (LCAs) to understand the climate impact of every component in our meals. The findings were powerful. Over 60% of our total emissions come from ingredients. That knowledge allowed us to redesign how we source and build recipes, without compromising on taste.

Some of our most popular climate-friendly meals now include: Mediterranean Chicken Thighs, Organic Chicken Cashew With Bok Choy, and Responsibly Farmed Shrimp Biryani.

These meals are not just delicious. They are consciously designed to reduce their environmental impact.

Read more in the Planet FWD x CookUnity case study →

Introducing our Special Lines

This data-informed approach to meal design inspired the creation of our Special Lines, curated collections that balance health, flavor, and environmental impact.

🌿 Green Eating Line (available in LA and NY) Eco-conscious meals made with low-emissions ingredients, verified by Planet FWD. Built for flavor and climate impact.

🥦 Clean Eating Line (available in NY) Whole-food, minimally processed meals crafted to support energy, vitality, and overall well-being. Always chef-crafted, never complicated.

Explore all Special Line meals →

Fighting food waste with Rethink Food

Since 2021, CookUnity has partnered with Rethink Food to ensure that perfectly good ingredients never go to waste. As Rethink’s national food excess partner, we donate surplus ingredients from kitchens across the U.S., which are then transformed into nourishing community meals.

✨ 294,000+ pounds of food donated since launch

These donations are prepared through Rethink Food’s Sustainable Community Kitchen in NYC and through local partners in Seattle, Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami, Atlanta, Austin, and more.

Learn more about our partnership →

Diverting waste with returnable packaging

In addition to fighting food waste, we are also working to eliminate packaging waste. As of May 2025, our Returnable Packaging Program has successfully diverted over 1.8 million insulated bags from the waste stream. This effort reduces the impact of single-use packaging across our operations.

This initiative supports our broader commitment to circularity, customer participation, and long-term sustainability.

Welcoming The Spare Food Co.

We are excited to welcome The Spare Food Co. to our event. They will be sharing thoughtfully prepared samples of their inventive, waste-fighting cuisine. Their mission to tackle food waste and reimagine what is possible in the kitchen resonates with the spirit of this gathering.

A shared table for change

This September, our rooftop will become a space for reflection, connection, and culinary inspiration. Guests will hear from chefs, sustainability leaders, and partners like Planet FWD. They will explore new tools for recipe creation and enjoy climate-friendly bites and drinks in a setting designed to reconnect food with purpose.

This private event is part of our broader journey to make food more sustainable, more personal, and more joyful.

Whether you are already part of the CookUnity community or just discovering us for the first time, we invite you to explore our Special Lines, meet our partners, and experience what wellness truly means on and off the plate.

Stay tuned. 🌱