4 Refrigerators Prevented More Than 3 Tons of Food Waste

Under the Free-Go project launched in Geneva, Switzerland, surplus food from restaurants and homes is connected with those in need through 4 refrigerators placed at various points in the city, with just one refrigerator preventing over 3 tons of food waste annually. According to the Food Waste Index Report published by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in 2021, an average of 981 million tons of food is discarded globally each year. This figure equals 17 percent of the total food accessible to all consumers worldwide. Through the initiative, individuals and restaurants place surplus food they have in refrigerators installed at various points in the city. People in need can take products placed in the refrigerators without paying any fee. Free-Go Project Director Marine Delevaux, explaining details of the initiative run by the non-profit organization Eco-Citoyen, stated that according to official figures in Switzerland, 2.8 million tons of food is wasted annually. Delevaux, noting that waste of this scale was a guiding factor in launching the project, said: "40 percent of food waste in Switzerland comes from homes. This means 100 kilograms of food waste per person annually. On the other hand, we know that 80 percent of these waste could be prevented. The main message of the project is to show that using Free-Go refrigerators is a civic duty and that people should avoid food waste regardless of their social status." Delevaux, explaining that they placed 4 refrigerators at various locations in Geneva under the project implemented in the summer of last year, emphasized that they did not place the refrigerators randomly on streets, but selected areas where people could easily access them and where they socialize. Stating that they also collaborated with local authorities, Delevaux underlined that they were careful to select locations where people in need live more frequently. Delevaux noted that some of the food in the refrigerators is sourced by their teams from restaurants and shops they have agreements with and placed in the refrigerators, while some is placed by citizens. Mentioning that they have established rules regarding the products left in the refrigerators and their placement, Delevaux listed the rules as follows: "Citizens can leave vegetables and fruits, bread, and dry food products with expiration instructions complying with Switzerland's consumption regulations. On the other hand, meat and similar foods and opened products are prohibited from being left. Because we cannot know their final consumption status. We only source such products from restaurants. We have a legal agreement with restaurants on this matter. We do not accept homemade meals due to the possibility that they may contain allergens. According to Swiss law, for such distributions to be carried out, the contents of the food and necessary warnings against allergen risks must be accessible. We also do not accept alcohol-containing products." Noting that his team is responsible for cleaning the refrigerators and monitoring the expiration dates and consumption status of products, Delevaux provided information that the rules followed and agreements made with restaurants were established according to the laws Switzerland has set to ensure food consumption and distribution safety.

"The figures surprised us too"

Stating that vegetables and bread are most frequently placed in the refrigerators and that public interest in the project is intense, Delevaux continued: "Users frequently request that new Free-Go refrigerators be installed in other parts of the city. When our colleagues place food sourced from restaurants in the morning, the refrigerator empties within a few hours. Thanks to just 1 refrigerator, we prevented over 3 tons of food waste within a year. The other refrigerators, although not yet installed for a year, are approaching the same figures. The numbers surprised us too; the refrigerators are not actually that large but circulation is very dense." Saying that they plan to increase the number of refrigerators to 8 within the coming year to save more food from going to waste, Delevaux concluded his remarks as follows: "If you look at it from a global perspective, there is serious food, resource and energy waste. This waste also has a financial burden. Because we are throwing away our resources. Especially when there are many people who cannot find food to eat, it is very painful that we waste what we have. That is why we are trying to prevent food waste, contribute to social solidarity, and help both people who cannot find food and those who do not know what to do with their surplus food."   Source