> But remember that capitalism doesn’t optimize for minimal physical waste - it optimizes for minimal waste overall. No, at best it optimizes for minimal waste

> But remember that capitalism doesn’t optimize for minimal physical waste - it optimizes for minimal waste overall. No, at best it optimizes for minimal waste of capital. If you can't find a way to use it for marketing or to receive subsidies, giving food to people who can't afford to pay for it is the same as throwing away food within capitalism: both are waste in a capitalist sense. Material waste is only relevant within capitalism inasmuch as the material in question is valuable.