Foodsharing
In Germany alone, around 11 million tonnes of food waste are produced along the food supply chain every year.
The food sharing movement
foodsharing is an initiative that was founded in 2012 and is committed to the responsible use of resources and a sustainable food system. Its top priority is to put an end to food waste.
foodsharing raises awareness of the topic among all stakeholders in society. Food businesses, retailers and catering establishments are given advice. The initiative also carries out educational work in schools and at public festivals.
Over 500,000 registered users and more than 100,000 volunteers, known as food savers, make the initiative an international movement. More than 13,000 businesses are cooperating, and over 100 million kilograms of food have been saved from the bin so far. Around 6,600 collections take place every day. Co-operating businesses are not liable for the food collected. This is made possible by legal agreements to which all food savers agree. The food banks are given priority if a business wants to donate food.
The platform foodsharing.com is based on voluntary commitment. The saving and sharing of food takes place without money (source: Foodsharing e.V.).
Foodsharing in Eberswalde
Over 100 volunteers have been collecting from Eberswalde businesses since 2017. over 1000 collections were made in 2022. Over 34 tonnes of food were saved from going to waste. After the collections, the food is either utilised by the donors themselves, distributed privately or publicly via a fair distributor. New collaborations are prepared, educational work is planned and new members are trained at regular meetings and in working groups.
A Fairteiler is located in the foyer of House 2 of the HNEE, Goethestraße 11, where everyone can share surplus food. There are two shelves for dry goods and a fridge for products that require refrigeration.
The city of Eberswalde and foodsharing Eberswalde act together!
The city of Eberswalde is committed to increasing the value of food and reducing food waste. As a symbol of the partnership between foodsharing Eberswalde and the city of Eberswalde, a declaration of motivation was signed in March 2023 (see downloads). Ideas already achieved as a foodsharing city are here to find.
Anyone who would like to get involved as a food saver or beyond can register at www.foodsharing.de log in.
You are also welcome to contact the active members in Eberswalde directly by e-mail at eberswalde@foodsharing.network.
National strategy to reduce food waste
After the National strategy to reduce food waste of this, most food is thrown away in private households (around 59 per cent). The consequences of this are a lack of awareness of the time, labour and dedication farmers put into producing food. Resources are also wasted unnecessarily and the climate is burdened by disposal.
