The economic impact of dental caries (tooth decay) is disproportionately higher in the most deprived groups, with estimated per-person costs of approximately £18,000 (equivalent to $22,500) in the UK that could be dramatically reduced with targeted preventative measures, found new research.

In 2022, U.S. grocers wasted 5 million tons of food, with 35% of it going to landfills, according to the food waste nonprofit ReFed. More than half of that waste — 2.7 million tons — was past the labels’ expiration dates.

But there’s a potential technological solution to the waste problem, according to new research from Texas McCombs. By moving from paper shelf labels to digital ones, supermarkets can easily lower prices and move older stock from their shelves to consumers’ homes.

Using technology to quickly change prices on labels, a process known as dynamic pricing, benefits more than just consumers, says Ioannis Stamatopoulos, associate professor of information, risk, and operations management.