Increased donation of surplus food - in the whole food chain
| Reference number | |
| Coordinator | Riksföreningen Sveriges Stadsmissioner |
| Funding from Vinnova | SEK 1 405 000 |
| Project duration | August 2022 - May 2024 |
| Status | Completed |
| Venture | The transformation of civil society |
| Call | Civil society´s solutions to climate transition. Innovation and cross-sectorial collaboration to reach the swedish climate goals |
Important results from the project
The aim of the project was to increase the amount of food that is donated instead of being wasted, by producing a handbook that guides food banks and actors within the food chain. Two hand books have been produced and published. One aimed at larger food banks and wholesalers, suppliers and producers, and one aimed at smaller food banks and retailers. The goal was that civil society organizations should redistribute at least 10 000 tons of surplus food annually by 2025. Already in 2023, Swedish civil society organizations redistributed approx. 9,500 tons of surplus food.
Expected long term effects
The aim of the project was to produce and distribute a handbook on food donations that guides food banks and actors from several parts of the value chain on how to proceed. The handbook would contribute to reducing food waste by increasing the amount of food that is donated instead of being wasted. Two manuals have been produced and published within the project. One is aimed at the retail level and smaller, more local food banks, and one handbook is aimed at larger food banks and suppliers, producers and wholesalers.
Approach and implementation
The content of the handbook has been developed through interviews, meetings and workshops and tests with food banks and actors in the food industry. The project has largely been carried out according to plan. However, the planned test of donation in cooperation with logistics operators did not happen because we did not manage to find a company that was interested in testing this, which in itself is a relevant conclusion in the project. However, other tests of donation linked to logistics have been carried out successfully. The results as been shared through a webinar and a seminar.