Food waste in Berlin: 11 tons in the trash every year!

Food waste in Berlin: 11 tons in the trash every year!

Food waste is an issue that affects us all. Every year, an overwhelming 11 million tons of food end up in the trash in Germany, many of which are still edible. Large cities such as Berlin in particular stand out negatively, as the online supermarket Motatos reports. Founded in Stockholm in 2014, Motatos has now established itself in Germany and Austria and offers a platform on which rescued food is sold that, for various reasons, does not make it into conventional supermarkets.

Motatos' managing director for Germany and Austria, Dominique Ertl, emphasizes that the range not only includes everyday foods, but also unusual products from small brands. Delivery is convenient to your doorstep. However, the range is not so comprehensive that it is sufficient for weekly shopping, as fresh foods such as fruit and vegetables are not in the range.

Background and need for education

Motatos' long-term goal is a world without food waste. However, according to Ertl, change begins with education about food and sustainability. Older generations in particular are often unsure when it comes to the best before date (best before date). This simply indicates until when a product retains its properties, which is often misunderstood. Information about the best before date could have a significant impact on consumer purchasing behavior.

Food waste is not only an ethical problem, but also has serious ecological consequences. It causes around 8-10% of global greenhouse gases. If you can reduce throwing away food and store it properly, you could not only reduce your carbon footprint, but also save money.

Political demands and European framework conditions

Dominique Ertl emphasizes the need for legally binding goals and more transparency from politicians in order to encourage supermarkets to take active action. The EU has recognized that food waste is a pressing problem. Around 60 million tons of food waste is generated in Europe every year, which corresponds to an enormous value of 132 billion euros.

The EU is planning ambitious goals to reduce this waste: by 2030, food waste in production and processing should be reduced by at least 20% and in trade and households by 40%. In addition, dates must be clearly marked to avoid misunderstandings. In March 2024, the European Parliament also spoke out in favor of further goals that aim for an even more drastic reduction.

A step towards a circular economy

Another key point in the discussion is the promotion of the circular economy. Government support is essential here: companies should be legally obliged to donate or resell surplus food. Around 25% of the food lost or wasted in Germany never reaches private households - a fact that is unpleasant but also necessary for action.

Consumers play a key role in this. Politicians should not only specifically combat the economic and ecological costs of food waste, but also create incentives to raise society's awareness of the issue. In this way, each individual can do their part to ensure that the plan to combat food waste sustainably becomes a success story.

In summary, the necessary steps to reduce food waste in Germany can be summarized as follows:

• Jährlich 60 Millionen Tonnen Lebensmittelverschwendung in der EU.
• Werden Sie aktiv: Lebensmittel richtig lagern und MHD bewusst beachten.
• Ziel: Umsetzung von verbindlichen politischen Vorgaben zur Reduzierung von Lebensmittelabfällen.
• Verstärkung der Bildung über Lebensmittel und Kreislaufwirtschaft im Kleinen und Großen.

Together we are strong! It is up to all of us to not only consume more consciously, but also to actively combat waste.

For more information about Motatos' work and its impact, you can visit motatos.com. In addition, the EU's plans to reduce food waste are documented in detail on europa.eu and can be viewed there. Also visit berlin-live.de for more exciting reports on the fight against food waste.