If I had to vote for one relatively small thing which could go a long way towards improving society, it’d be reducing food waste. We waste an insane amount of food, up to 50% of the total production in the developed world, while hundreds of millions of people are facing food insecurity every single day. The key to reducing that waste, scientists say, is simply being more responsible. It’s small things that can go a long way, and it’s creative solutions like this which could make a difference.
Too Good To Go, an app operating in the UK, allows users to order leftover food at a discount from restaurants. The price varies between 2 and 3.8 pounds ($2.6 – $5), but since restaurant kitchens end up with a bunch of food which would otherwise be thrown away, it’s also a good deal for them. The process is really simple. You log in, pick a restaurant and pay through the app.
The idea, however, isn’t getting a cheap meal or making a bit of extra profit – it’s about keeping food inside our bellies instead of the garbage bin. And I’m a huge believer in food-in-bellies. Hopefully, we’ll see more efforts focused towards reducing food waste in the future, be them apps, legislature, or startups.