Increasing surplus food donation throughout the food chain

Industry, academia and civil society are now working together to investigate obstacles and show good examples and efficient methods for donating surplus food. This is a contribution to reaching the goal of halving food waste by 2030. The project is to result in a handbook to facilitate food donation for all the stakeholders in the value chain

Today an estimated 100,000 tonnes of food is discarded – food that could be donated and distributed to people who need it. Today, less than five per cent of surplus food is donated.

Within the project, Swedish City Missions, IVL, Frigoscandia, Stockfiller, Willys and a large number of food industry stakeholders are to develop and evaluate key factors to reduce food waste through increased donations from the entire food chain. The information will be compiled in a handbook intended for stakeholders who may have surplus food, their collaboration partners, and agents within civil society keen to receive large volumes of donated surplus food to ensure it reaches people in need.

Among other things, the project involves developing cost-effective and environmentally friendly logistics, finding the best method for retail store donations, removing legal obstacles and testing new types of collaboration.

The goal is to save 10,000 tonnes of surplus food by 2025, compared to 4,500 tonnes in 2021. These 10,000 tonnes correspond to emissions of 24,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents.

Different parts of the food chain require different solutions. The project therefore focuses on different areas of activity, each with a dedicated section in the handbook. The sections will be published on this website as soon as they are completed. At the end of the project, IVL will produce a compiled version of the Handbook for Donations, with good examples and lessons intended both for stakeholders in the food industry and for civil society dealing with people in need.

The project is managed by Swedish City Missions and includes participants such as IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute, Frigoscandia, Stockfiller, Willys and several other food industry stakeholders from all parts of the food chain, as well as relevant government agencies.

More information about the project

News from the project will also be disseminated via the webpage for Agreement for reduction of food waste.

Project manager: Anne Lunde Dinesen, Swedish City Missions