Secret Recipe’s partnership with Dignity Farm Academy began in July 2024, sparked by an organic farmer affiliated with the Academy who approached the brand to explore a collaboration grounded in circular economy principles. In line with its commitment to environmental sustainability, Secret Recipe had been actively seeking responsible ways to manage food waste, particularly by reducing landfill disposal. Since then, Dignity Farm Academy has become a key supporter of the initiative, regularly collecting various types of food waste from Secret Recipe outlets and integrating them into its permaculture and composting programmes.
Dignity Farm Academy collects fruit and vegetable waste from Secret Recipe, using it as material in their composting programmes. Volunteer students from the Academy in Sentul are involved in the entire process, working hands-on to turn food waste into organic compost. This compost is then used to nurture vegetable crops and fruit trees cultivated on the Academy’s land.
In addition to composting, Dignity Farm also repurposes cake and cream waste from Secret Recipe for its black soldier fly breeding facility. These organic by-products serve as feed for the larvae, which in turn provide a rich, sustainable source of protein for the farm’s poultry and livestock, including chickens, turkeys and quail. This innovative system not only reduces waste and carbon footprint, but also provides valuable engagement opportunities between Secret Recipe staff, students and members of Dignity.
On 4 September 2025, a team of 20 volunteers from Secret Recipe visited Dignity Farm Academy in Bentong to experience first-hand the Academy’s organic farming initiatives. The team was given a comprehensive tour of the farm and was able to witness the tangible outcomes of the partnership — from compost generated using food waste to cake sponge being used as part of poultry feed.
The visit also included several hands-on activities. Volunteers took part in tree planting using trees donated by Secret Recipe, vegetable transplanting into designated planting beds and compost turning to accelerate the breakdown process. It was an engaging and educational experience for all involved, strengthening not only internal team bonds but also connections with the wider community through this impactful partnership.
