According to the United Nations, around a third of food produced for human consumption is thrown away worldwide. In Austria, between 800,000 and one million tons of food are thrown away every year, 229,000 tons of which are thrown away by private households alone. The “World Day against Food Waste” aims to draw attention to these alarming figures and at the same time highlight solutions.
Various measures against waste
In order to save food that is still edible from being thrown away and to protect resources at the same time, ADEG retailers take various measures in their stores. For example, products that are about to expire are not thrown away but donated to charitable organizations to help people in need. In addition, ADEG retailers cooperate with initiatives such as “Too good to go” and with regional farms that use food that is no longer saleable as animal feed. REWE Wholesale Managing Director Jürgen Öllinger emphasizes the role model function of ADEG retailers: “With their commitment, our ADEG retailers are sending a strong signal against food waste. Through creative and sustainable measures, they show how responsible food handling can be practiced in everyday life. They not only contribute to environmental protection, but also support people in difficult situations - a win-win situation for society and our resources.”
From the “Too Good Too Go” app to food bank donations
Peter Buchmüller's ADEG store in the Salzburg municipality of Großgmain is a successful example of how to avoid food waste. For two years now, the store has been taking part in the “Too Good To Go” initiative, in which food that is still edible but no longer in perfect condition is packaged in “surprise bags” and offered at reduced prices shortly before closing time. An app shows which stores offer this service and where you can pick them up after paying. At ADEG Binder in the Lower Austrian municipality of St. Andrä-Wördern (Tulln district), food that is close to its expiry date is also offered at greatly reduced prices via the “Too Good To Go” app. The market also offers baked goods that are more than one day old at half price. A special initiative is the cooperation with the local bird of prey breeding station, to which leftover meat and sausage products that can no longer be sold are donated as food. Also in Lower Austria, the ADEG Lechner family in the municipality of Katzelsdorf (Wiener Neustadt district) is taking far-reaching measures to actively combat food waste: Through its cooperation with the “Team Österreich Tafel” food bank, it supports people in difficult circumstances and at the same time focuses on saving food.
