⅓ of the world's food is thrown away with 95-115 kg of food being thrown away per year per person in the EU and NA (UN environment programme). 40% of wasted food is caused by households (last stage of supply chain) with 35 billion kg of food being wasted solely by US households (FoodPrint). Food waste that occurs at this stage of the supply chain is the most harmful to the environment because of the amount of carbon intensive activities required to reach that stage. (Fao.org)

How could we leverage technology to offer innovative solutions to reduce food waste and its environmental impact? We identified 3 big use cases:

• Mobile Apps for food Sharing and redistribution: Technology can connect consumers with surplus food from restaurants, grocery stores, and other individuals. Platforms allow users to purchase discounted food items that would otherwise go to waste or donate surplus food to those in need.
• Inventory Management Software: Technology can help track and manage inventory more effectively. By predicting demand more accurately and notify about nearing expirations dates, it helps reduce the likelihood of excess stock and better use of inventory.
• Food Waste Tracking and Reporting Tools: Tools that track and report food waste in households, can provide valuable data that helps in identifying patterns and areas for improvement.
• Consumer Education through Digital Platforms: Technology also plays a crucial role in educating consumers about food waste. Online platforms, social media, and educational apps can raise awareness about the impact of food waste and provide tips on food storage, meal planning, and creative ways to use leftovers.

Technology also plays a crucial role in educating consumers about food waste. Online platforms, social media, and educational apps can raise awareness about the impact of food waste and provide tips on food storage, meal planning, and creative ways to use leftovers.

Our favorite food waste apps:

• Olio: share more, waste less. Olio is on a mission to normalise sharing what we no longer need, and make buying new a last resort. Climate change can make us feel helpless. Still every little action counts and we can do more at an individual level than we think. They created a tool where people can easily pass on the things they no longer need. They describe the problem wonderfully “A billion tiny actions got us into this mess. A billion tiny actions can get us out.” Their positive impact on the community is also impressive: 10 million household items shared, 139 million portions of food shared and 160,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions avoided. Olio, it’s great that you exist and keep up the good work!
• Too good to go: SAVE the planet AT CLOSING TIME Too good to go lets you rescue unsold food from an untimely fate at your favourite spots. The app shows restaurants and cafes around you, allowing you to buy “surprise bags” of good food at roughly a third of the original price. discounted In 2022 alone they saved circa 79 million meals, avoiding nearly 200,000 tonnes of CO2e emissions.
• No waste: Easily track, organize and manage the food in your home! An inventory management app that allows you to organize food by expiration date built by a solo developer! We always appreciate fellow indie developers who strive to have an impact. We particularly love the way it allows you to track your progress via statistics showing how much food you saved from being wasted, putting a monetary tag on it to know how much money you saved. Way to go Kasper!

And now, back to you: what’s one small thing you can do today towards a more sustainable kitchen?