BMEL activities to combat food waste
More appreciation, less food waste!
Food waste is unacceptable from an ethical, ecological and economic standpoint. The Too good for the bin! Initiative has succeeded in recent years, through targeted, broadly disseminated information, to raise awareness of the value of our food and consequently to reduce waste.
Objectives and national strategy
The United Nations’ goals are:
- to halve per capita food waste at retail and consumer levels by 2030.
- Food waste, including post-harvest losses, is to be reduced along the production and supply chain
The targets to reduce the amount of wasted food are very ambitious, and they will only be achievable at national level with the collaboration of all stakeholders along the food supply chain. The "Too good for the bin!" initiative that was launched in 2012 is a key component of the Strategy for Food Waste Reduction. Too Good for the Bin! is being continuously expanded and extended to include the entire food supply chain.
BMEL Activities
Through diverse activities aimed at a wide variety of target groups, the BMEL already offers support to anyone who values the sustainable, resource-conserving, and appreciative handling of food.
Too good for the bin! on the Internet
How much food is actually thrown away? What are the reasons why foodstuffs end up in the bin? And what can I do as an individual? The website provides consumers with answers and recommendations for action through simple tips, recipes to make the most of leftovers, and numerous join-in activities. Here, consumers can learn how they can easily reduce everyday food waste. There are some helpful tips at www.zugutfuerdietonne.de (only in german), with monthly key themes and a large information and service area. There are also school materials for years 3 - 6 and 7 - 9.
Too good for the bin! federal prize
With our “Too good for the bin!” prize (german only),
the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) honours initiators of outstanding projects who contribute to reducing food waste through specific ideas, pioneering spirit, and great commitment. The prize is awarded to projects from a large variety of areas along the entire food supply chain: from production and trade to food processing in the catering sector and in private households. The competition is open to everyone: no matter whether it is a company, a catering trade, an agricultural holding, a scientific institution, a private person, an NGO, a municipality, or an initiative – anyone can join in! The federal prize is awarded to one project from each of the five categories agriculture and production, trade, restaurant and catering sector, society and education, and digitalisation. There are additional funding prizes worth € 15,000 in total for concepts and projects at the launch or development stage.
The “Making the most of leftovers” app
A plate of pasta and some leftover vegetables from the day before in the fridge? The app of Too good for the bin! shows what tasty dishes can be rustled up with them. In addition to 700 recipes, users can also find tips on avoiding food waste. All recipes are also available online on the Zu gut für die Tonne! website.
Recipe videos in the #restereloaded series
What to do with leftover food? You-Tube videos with recipes offer clear assistance in cooking with leftover food and are published on the BMEL’s social media channels and by Too good for the bin!.
The making-the-most-of-leftovers box
In 2016, we joined forces with Greentable and launched a successful campaign entitled “Enjoy food without leftovers” (“Restlos genießen”). The aim is to use the “making-the-most-of-leftovers box” (“Beste-Reste-Box”) to encourage catering businesses to actively offer guests the option of having their leftovers packed to take home. At the same time, guests are encouraged to ask for their leftovers to be packed for them to take home. The boxes can now be purchased online as well.
Active food appreciation
The direct exchange of ideas between citizens is crucial to focus on food as a valuable resource in our daily lives. Additional events such as the Federal Government’s Open Day promote the active appreciation of food.
Germany saves food awareness-raising week
Nationwide awareness-raising weeks are held under the motto of Germany saves food! to encourage greater appreciation of food. The third nationwide awareness-raising week will take place from 29 September to 6 October 2022. The aim of the awareness-raising weeks is to draw attention to the subject of reducing food waste nationwide and to strengthen the movement for greater appreciation of our food.
A joint effort to reduce food waste
The agreed goals for reducing food waste can only be achieved if all actors along the value chain make their own specific contributions and if the overall awareness in society of the value of food increases. The online platform www.zugutfuerdietonne.de pools the varied forms of commitment and is continuously expanded by the Federal Government and the Länder.
