Volunteer-managed Wefood stores are open to everyone.
place. The challenge of reducing food waste was a natural pursuit for me.” Her “Stop Wasting Food” Facebook page (Stop spild af mad in Danish) was an instant success. Soon after, Denmark’s Rema 1000 discount supermarkets contacted Juul to help them find a way to cut down on their quantities of unsold goods. “We have everything to gain,” she adds. “It saves time, saves money and saves the planet.” Juul is still pursuing her mission in Denmark, but is now also working across Europe to broaden the scope of her project. During a recent TEDx presentation, she reminded her audience: “The expression ‘best if used by’ on labelling doesn’t mean ‘toxic after this date’!” Between 2010 and 2018, the people of Denmark managed to reduce their food waste by 33%, and successive governments
have continued to treat the issue as a serious priority. Most supermarkets also appear committed to the cause. However, Danish households still throw out 260,000 tonnes of food a year. “We have a lot of work to do on consumer awareness,” Selina says.
Responding to an ecological emergency
Serkan Coskun became aware of the waste problem while working at a hotel in central Copenhagen. “The orders always far surpass demand. Every day, at least 30% of the food goes into the trash.” To do his bit, Coskun volunteers with ‘Foodsharing’, an initiative founded in 2016 that gives away free fruit and vegetables recovered from markets and supermarkets twice each week. On this particular
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May morning, Serkan is sorting crates of melons, asparagus, mushrooms, cucumbers, lemons, apples and bananas in a Sydhaven district community hall. “We distribute food here each Wednesday to 150 people. When I started two years ago, there weren’t as many people showing up. This whole culture of consuming unsold products is spreading.” Working alongside him is 29-year-old Roxana Gabriela Zlate, who coordinates the work performed by the organisation’s volunteers. “Foodsharing also offers ‘Disco Soups’ – free dance parties in public places that involve preparing a shared meal,” she adds. Zlate discovered the enormity of the food-waste problem when she began witnessing the effects of climate change on Denmark: warmer, drier summers and heavy rains leading to dramatic