changeadminOne-third of food worldwide ends up in garbage bins and landfills.
The statistics paint a sorry picture, as discarded food causes immense loss to society, the economy, and the environment. The wastage means that all the resources used for growing and making food are also wasted.
Additionally, food waste sitting in a garbage dump releases harmful gases such as methane and carbon dioxide. As per UN estimates, food loss and waste account for 8-10% of annual global greenhouse gas emissions.
Of all the food wasted, a major chunk comes from restaurants and food service establishments.
These places often prepare more food than needed to avoid running out during busy hours. Leftovers that go uneaten and unsold are discarded, contributing to landfills and emissions.
Thankfully, we have solutions now. Startups are giving a new life to potential food waste through tech-based solutions.
Food Waste Mobile Apps Promoting a Sharing Economy
Too Good To Go, founded in 2015, connects customers to restaurants and stores that have surplus unsold food. The company operates in all major cities in Europe, North America and Australia.
Customers can purchase any food the outlet considers surplus to their needs at a discounted price.
On the supply side, Too Good To Go partners with restaurants, grocery stores, bakeries and any outlets that have food with the potential to go unsold and be thrown away.
The Copenhagen-based startup has about 175,000 active partners, ranging from small restaurants to large retailers such as Aldi, SPAR, Whole Foods Market, etc.
These food partners notify Too Good To Go about food they predict will be left over, such as meals, bakery items, perishables, etc. The contents are then stored in a surprise bag.
On the app, customers can view the list of outlets available within a chosen distance and time range and place their order.
Users can not choose the food contents in the surprise bag, but prices are generally three to four times lower than standard prices.
At a stipulated time, customers can visit the food outlet and collect their ordered surprise bag. After their meal, they can give their rating for food and service.
This engagement, on one hand, helps food retailers earn a little income rather than nothing from throwing food away; on the other hand, consumers get deeply discounted food items, which overall contributes to the betterment of the environment.
The company announced that in 2024, it had surpassed 100 million registered users, who collectively helped save 135 million meals, representing an increase of about 11% from the 121 million meals saved in 2023.
Another startup, Sweden-based Karma, offers customers the ability to find deals from its food eateries partners like restaurants, hotels, groceries, and bakeries.
The startup, founded in 2015, serves customers in European countries like the UK, France, and Sweden. Customers can pay discounted prices and pick up the food as a takeaway from the same eatery by showing the order details on the app.
In 2018, Karma launched a fridge, developed in partnership with Electrolux, to streamline storage and pick up of items. This allows customers to collect purchased items without additional employee assistance and time constraints.
London-based Olio is another startup that facilitates consumers to connect with their neighbours and local stores for any surplus food items.
The food can include homegrown garden vegetables, unwanted food, or any surplus food when going on a holiday.
Users can take a photo of their item, write a brief description, and provide pick-up details. A neighbour or another user can browse what is available, request anything which they might need, and send a message to arrange a pick-up.
In a social media post, the startup mentioned that together with food retailers like Tesco, it has provided 300 million meals to local communities in the last 10 years.
Started in 2015, Olio offers services beyond food waste. Through their mobile application, customers can share, borrow or donate any household items, like books, clothes or furniture. They can offer it for free or for a price.
The food waste mobile apps business model is rapidly proliferating to other regions of the world.
Other startups that have entered the fray are Mystery Pot (available in Greece), Yindii (in Hong Kong, Thailand and Singapore), and Food to Save (in Brazil).
Wrapping Up
According to a World Bank report, yearly global food wastage costs US$ 1 trillion to the world, and by 2030, annual food loss and waste would surpass 2 billion tons worth $1.5 trillion.
Reducing the amount of food lost across the supply chain, from production to consumption, is essential for the environment, economy, and food security.
World Resources Institute (WRI) in its findings mentioned that “reducing food loss and waste by 25 per cent by 2050 would close the food gap by 12 per cent, the land gap by 27 per cent and the GHG mitigation gap by 15 per cent.”
To reach the goal of minimising food waste by 25 per cent will require far more efforts, investments, technological interventions, awareness, and effective monitoring systems.
Even if the impact of these food waste mobile apps may be small, it does help feed more people and save resources. In the long term, if more players enter, it will support a more sustainable future while reducing the associated environmental footprint.
The article is contributed by Varun, Founder of Change Started
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