Die Essensretter

As the author of a number of books, Valentin Thurn is convinced that popularizing good examples can raise awareness and that habits have important repercussions on our way of living. www.foodsharing, the platform he created with Stefan Kreutzberger, organizes ethical purchasing groups, knowledge and information exchanges and systems of direct online ordering from farmers. Through the platform, it is also possible to signal surplus food with expiry and (for cooked foods) production dates to anyone who can use it.

Food-sharing has spread from Germany, where it first started, to Austria, France and Switzerland, involving retailers, restaurateurs and producers. It is important, in fact, to collect food that is approaching its sell-by date, but still edible, in shops to save on garbage collection costs and waste. The ambition is to extend the model all over Europe.

After launching its “Love Food Hate Waste” campaign, Great Britain reduced food waste by 13%. In the wake of the platform’s success, some restaurateurs have decided to fine clients who leave too many leftovers: as a result, they now pile less food onto plates and cut prices, serving XXL menus only to the hungriest punters. Others have decided to use food from cooperatives that collect food discarded by food chains, while a number of supermarkets have inaugurated a ready meal service using unsold products.