FOOD WASTE PROJECT: 20182019
Food Waste: An Urgent Problem Food waste is a vast environmental, economic and social issue: in the EU, an estimated 20% of the total food produced is lost or wasted, with associated costs estimated at 143 billion euros, while 55 million individuals cannot afford a quality meal every second day. On a broader global scale, furthermore, food waste amounts to the vain occupation of 30% of the world’s arable land, ranks as the third top CO2 emitter after the US and China, and has a notable blue water footprint. To raise awareness about this salient issue and tackle unnecessary waste at the local level, SAFE has therefore elaborated a food redistribution project, “One Man’s Waste is Another Man’s Treasure”, with the support of the European Commission’s LIFE Programme. The Project SAFE launched the project “One Man’s Waste is Another Man’s Treasure” on September 24th, 2018. It aims at redistributing unsold food from restaurants and retail outlets in Brussels to individuals in need.
How it Works SAFE is organising regular collections at different shops, subsequently providing the excess food to charitable associations which will redistribute it directly to people in need. Starting in the communes of Ixelles and Etterbeek in Brussels, the project will eventually be extended to other communes and cities both in Belgium and in other EU Member States. In order to maximize the impact of the project, SAFE has guaranteed the involvement of both smaller local businesses and larger retail chains (including Carrefour and Leonidas), with the aim of incorporating more businesses as the project moves forward. SAFE has received authorization from the Belgian Federal Agency for Food Safety to conduct the project. To draw consumers’ attention to the work of existing partners, SAFE has created a communication plan for the project. The communication strategy encompasses, amongst other elements, an official campaign logo which will be displayed in the windows of partner retailers and restaurants as well as on the team’s handling material (see below), a social media campaign, SAFE’s official newsletters, and media coverage in local and EU-related outlets.
ONE MAN’S WASTE IS ANOTHER MAN’S TREASURE
DITES STOP! AU GASPILLAGE ALIMENTAIRE
WWW.SAFEFOODADVOC ACY.EU
CE MAGASIN EST NOTRE PARTENAIRE!
Supported by the European Commission “One Man’s Waste is Another Man’s Treasure” is part of the LIFE Programme, the European Commission’s funding instrument for the environment and climate action. The general objective of LIFE is the contribution to the implementation and development of European Union environmental and climate policy and legislation.
The Partners During this initial stage, approximately ten suppliers and eleven charities are involved, with the number of partners expected to grow as the project develops. Shops and Restaurants:
The Barn Bio Market
Färm Ixelles
Carrefour Market Etterbeek
Leonidas la Chasse & Luxembourg
Le Comptoir du Samson
Magasin Général
Dolma Magasin
Renard Boulangerie
Dolma Restaurant
...
Charities and Associations: Every Thursday evening, SAFE brings collected food to a weekly charity meal for local homeless individuals. On other weekdays, the food is redistributed to a variety of partners throughout Brussels, including: - Plateforme Citoyenne - BXLRefugees - SerSo Notre-Dame du Sacré-Coeur - Ixelles prévention / accueil de jour - Centre Social Protestant - Paroisse Sainte-Gertrude
- Frigo Communautaire Etterbeek - CPAS-EH. - Maison de quartier Chambéry - CSS - BXL SE
Additional photographic material: