In Episode 34 of The Exponential Show, host Mayank Singh sits down with Ben Lephilibert, a pioneer in food waste management and sustainability in the hospitality industry.

As the CEO of LightBlue and Co-Founder of The PLEDGE on Food Waste, Ben shares how over a decade of working closely with kitchens, chefs, and systems has shaped his perspective on one of the world’s most overlooked problems.

From the early days of building LightBlue to developing scalable methodologies and technology, this conversation explores what it really takes to change industry behavior at scale.

Chapters:

00:00 Intro

02:28 Origin Story — From launching LightBlue in 2013 to building The PLEDGE on Food Waste, what drove Ben to tackle this problem?

14:03 The ‘Made It’ Moment — When did it become clear that LightBlue’s methodology could influence industry standards?

16:11 Busting Myths — What are the biggest misconceptions about food waste that still exist today?

23:33 Lessons from the Ground — Memorable (and sometimes frustrating) moments working with kitchens and chefs

34:26 From Systems to Tech — The evolution from audits and processes to building scalable tech solutions like FIT

43:24 Inside the Bin — After 13 years, does restaurant waste still surprise him?

52:51 Untapped Opportunities — Where is the biggest opportunity in solving food waste today, and what is Ben building toward?

58:04 Staying the Course — What keeps him motivated after more than a decade in this space?

About the Sponsor:

This episode is supported by True Digital Park, Thailand’s most comprehensive soft-landing platform for international individuals and companies.

From business registration and visa & work permit support to deep immersion in Thailand’s business and cultural ecosystem, True Digital Park helps you build and scale with confidence.

Watch the full episode to understand how food waste can be tackled not just through awareness, but through systems, discipline, and scalable solutions.