Treating meals waste is likely one of the world’s biggest environmental challenges. In the US, between 30 and 40 p.c of the meals provide is wasted yearly. The issue is analogous in Europe, the place greater than 59 million tons of meals waste are generated yearly. Whereas particular person houses contribute to the meals waste disaster, firms, similar to eating places, accommodations and groceries, are additionally essential. Based on the Nationwide Restaurant Affiliation, American eating places are answerable for as much as 33 billion kilos of annual meals waste.
In 2015, a gaggle of younger entrepreneurs primarily based in Denmark, Thomas Bjørn, Stian Olesen, Klaus Bagge Pedersen, Brian Christensen and Adam Sigbrand, received to discover a answer to assist mitigate the rising meals waste downside.
Too good to go
Due to this fact, they created too nicely, a platform designed to assist meals firms scale back their waste by connecting them with shoppers who would purchase extra meals at a reduction value. An utility was launched in 2016, and rapidly received traction in the UK and Europe.
Right this moment, too good to go is the world’s largest meals surplus market. It’s operational in Europe, the US, Canada and Australia, and has greater than 100 million registered customers worldwide. Do you wish to be a part of them? That is the way it may benefit the planet and its pockets on the similar time.
How is just too good to assist handle meals waste?
Meals waste goes past meals. It additionally prices economies billions of dollars, in addition to priceless assets. For instance, virtually half of the liveable land is used for agriculture, for instance. There are additionally issues on the different finish of the chain: when meals ends within the landfill, it contributes to dangerous greenhouse fuel emissions, similar to methane and carbon dioxide. That’s the reason too good to go, directed by Danish businessman Mette Lykke as CEO, he has the mission of serving to meals firms to do away with their waste in a extra sustainable manner, promoting it at a reduction value for shoppers.
Too good to go
“From our launch, now we have saved greater than 350 million meals to waste,” Sarah Sotoff instructed Vegnews, too good for Go’s Public relations for North America. “That’s equal to stopping 945,000 tons of equal carbon dioxide emissions, conserving 283.5 billion liters of water and preserving 980 million sq. meters yearly.”
That is how meals firms, similar to supermarkets and eating places, register meals which are virtually in spirit within the utility so that buyers gather at a reduction value. Then, shoppers go to the institution to gather their cut price plot (which is usually packaged in a “shock bag”, so they do not know precisely what’s inside), take it dwelling and revel in meals.
“By empowering firms and involving shoppers, our aim is to spice up systemic change in direction of a extra sustainable meals system,” Soteroff stated.
Too good has been related to a wide range of companies worldwide, together with Starbucks, Subway, Carrefour and Aldi. These associations not solely save meals to go to the landfill, but in addition save shoppers cash. In the UK, a current report instructed that Aldi’s shock baggage with Too Good to Go, offered at £ three.30 (roughly $ four.16) per bag, they typically contained round £ 10 (slightly below $ 13) in meals, meals, He had saved British consumers greater than $ 21 million or £ 17 million.
In the US, too good to go lately related to Entire Meals Market to promote shock baggage to US shoppers. Talking in regards to the collaboration, which was introduced in July 2024, the vice chairman of Entire Meals Market sustainability, Caitlin Leibert, stated the shop was “delighted to be a part of the group too good to go.”
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She added: “As a part of our function of nourishing folks and the planet, we proceed to put money into new and progressive methods to maintain the meals not offered out of our landfills and practice our purchasers to make choices with environmental aware.”
In January 2025, the duo additionally joined to supply extra shock baggage in two codecs: ready meals and bakery. The primary had a value of slightly below $ 10, however it was stuffed with soups value $ 30 and meals able to eat, whereas the second had a value of $ 6.99 and stuffed with bread, muffins, cookies and buns by worth of $ 21.
“Collaboration with Entire Meals Market is a vital mile Native to massive retailers to massive retailers to massive retailers, to deal with meals waste. “
Too good to go
Learn how to scale back meals waste too good to go
The Too Good to Go utility is straightforward to make use of. Merely permit entry to your location and checklist all surplus meals with a reduction accessible to gather in your space. In case you are in search of choices with out meat, be attentive to the entrances that learn “Bag of Vegan Shock” or “Bag of vegetarian shock”. You too can filter weight loss plan choice tickets.
Along with going too nicely, there are various methods to cut back meals waste. Cautious planning earlier than edible purchases, batch cooking, financial savings saving and composting are sensible methods to cut back the person affect of meals waste. For extra data, you will discover chef suggestions primarily based on vegetation, Max la Manna, right here.
“Small and aware actions can result in a terrific affect,” provides Sichoff. “Start for being intentional about their purchases, cooking and consuming habits. Plan the meals, retailer meals correctly and be inventive with leftovers. He helps firms and initiatives that actively struggle meals waste, as too good. Collectively, we will create a tradition the place meals is valued and waste is minimized. “
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Charlotte is an editor and author of Vegnews primarily based in Sunny Southsea on the southern coast of England.