Food rescue in Berlin: Motatos fights against waste!

Food rescue in Berlin: Motatos fights against waste!

In Germany, around 11 million tons of food are thrown away every year, even though many of them are still edible. Waste is particularly high in large cities like Berlin, where more and more people are looking for a solution to this urgent problem. The online supermarket Motatos, founded in Stockholm in 2014, specializes in offering rescued food in Germany and Austria. The products on his shelves often have expired best-before dates or come with cosmetic flaws. Many also come from overproduction. Dominique Ertl, Motatos' managing director for the two countries, describes the company as an online shop for food that doesn't make it into traditional supermarkets. Delivery even takes place directly to the customer’s doorstep.

The range includes a colorful mix of everyday foods as well as unusual products from smaller brands. However, the offer is not enough for a full weekly shop; you will look in vain for fresh food such as fruit and vegetables. In the long term, Motatos' goal is to create a world without food waste. Ertl emphasizes the need to inform older generations about food and sustainability. Because many consumers often don't know how to deal with the best-before date (best before date). A better understanding could significantly reduce food waste.

Food waste in the eyes of the EU

According to data from the European Union, around 60 million tons of food are affected every year, which is equivalent to a huge value of 132 billion euros. This also brings with it ecological challenges, as 8 to 10 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions come from food waste. To counteract this, the EU is pursuing ambitious goals to reduce food waste. By 2030, a reduction of at least 20 percent in food production and processing and 40 percent in retail, restaurants and private households should be achieved.

A recently adopted document also made proposals that go beyond these objectives. The EU is planning, among other things, a revision of the Waste Framework Directive and binding waste reduction targets. Above all, unsaleable but still edible food should be donated. This could make a big difference in reducing pressure on resources.

Need for political action

Dominique Ertl is calling for legally binding goals from politicians in order to encourage supermarkets and companies to take action. It calls for a national strategy to reduce food waste that is aligned with the ambitious goals of the UN sustainability agenda. There is currently no clear legal framework in Germany that requires companies to report on their food losses. A change of course in politics is urgently needed in order to reduce the economic and ecological costs of food waste.

With a growing awareness of the issues surrounding food waste and initiatives such as Motatos, Germany has the opportunity to lead the way in the fight against food waste. Access to rescued food could encourage many to shop more locally and sustainably and encourage a rethinking of food use. In this context, education about the best before date and sensitive handling of food are of central importance in order to counteract waste.