Surplus Food Redistribution: Towards a World Where No Good Food Goes to Waste

Abstract

Food waste is a major global issue, with negative environmental, social and economic impacts. Surplus food redistribution is a strategy, through which the problem of food waste can be effectively combatted by redirecting edible food, which would otherwise be wasted, to people. In the European Union, 127 kg/capita of food is wasted every year, while 36.2 million people cannot afford a nutritious meal every second day. Reducing these figures is paramount, and can be achieved effectively through surplus food redistribution. The aim of this research was to explore surplus food redistribution possibilities across the Member States of the European Union, present an overview of practices from the non-profit and for-profit sectors, and find best practice examples through a multi-criteria decision analysis. Stakeholders from these organisations, and other experts, were then interviewed to gain insights on the impact of surplus food redistribution, challenges, perceptions of policies and future outlooks for surplus food redistribution in the European Union. This research found that food waste can be combatted through surplus food redistribution in the EU with increased funding and awareness of surplus food redistribution organisations and their activities, knowledge-sharing and replication of virtuous practices, and last but not least, harmonised monitoring and reporting of food waste across the European Union. Focusing on these solutions can increase surplus food redistribution in the EU, and thus prevent food waste and have positive effects on the planet, as well as on its people.