According to the United Nations, approximately 1.3 billion tonnes of food are wasted each year. This is roughly a third of all foods produced. Tech startups are taking action to combat food waste as environmental concerns and consumer demand for sustainable living practices increase around the globe.
The Swedish company Karma was launched in Stockholm in 2016 and has since expanded to London, Paris, and the UK. Its latest hub will be opened in Brighton in October 2019, and it is also continuing its expansion in other parts of the UK. Karma is a platform that connects customers with local food retailers, such as restaurants, grocery stores, and cafes, who are willing to sell their unsold products at half-price. This gives both the retailer and consumer a discount.
Karma and Electrolux have partnered to create a smart fridge that will allow users to unlock the refrigerator from Karma’s app, order food surpluses, or place orders. Karma and Electrolux announced that after a one-year pilot program, the program would be commercialized and rolled out to 45 Swedish grocery stores by the end of the year. To make it easier for customers to buy surplus food, the two companies will run a test placing smart refrigerators at Stockholm’s central subway station so that consumers can easily pick up their groceries while on their way home.
Charlotte Humphries is the UK marketing manager for Karma. She told the Innovation Group that the world has finally woken up to the fact our planet isn’t invincible, and we all need to do more to reverse climate change. One way to achieve this is by changing small patterns of behavior. Food waste apps are a great way to reduce food waste. They’re also very popular around the world. Apps like Karma can have a huge impact on consumer behavior by breaking down food waste into individual meals and each bite.
Kitche, another UK tech startup, is tackling food wastage. Kitche, launched in August 2019 by Kitche, aims to stop people from wasting food and money. Users can scan their receipts to get recipe plans that minimize waste. The app will remind users to consume fruit and vegetables five days after purchase.
In Northern Ireland, Gander partnered with Henderson Group in order to reduce supermarket waste. The app, which works with SPAR and EUROSPAR brands ViVO and ViVOxtra, notifies customers when a particular food item is on sale. Users can filter their search for discounted items by distance, category, and dietary requirements. SpareEat connects Tel Aviv residents to surplus food in supermarkets, cafes, and restaurants.
Food waste is a problem that has existed for a long time. However, technological advances are helping to provide innovative and effective solutions.
