Annually, 2 billion tons of the uneaten food in the world ends up in the trash; Germany accounts for about 80 kilograms of that waste. In response to these staggering statistics, an online German community was created for people to exchange or give away "edible but unwanted" food through foodsharing.de.
foodsharing.de works to reallocate goods that might otherwise be wasted, having people trade food for food, not money. By de-emphasizing the monetary value of the edible goods, this concept plays up food's innate ability to create community and bring people together.
On the site, users can search for entire "food baskets," or just a single item. Currently, the offerings in Berlin include bread rolls, cloves of garlic, slices of pizza, spices and sweet pastries -- and hopefully they will not go to waste.
Food-Swapping Websites
'Foodsharing.de' Community Exchanges Edibles to Reduce Waste
Trend Themes
1. Food-swapping Communities - Creating online communities for people to exchange or give away edible but unwanted food presents an opportunity for reducing global food waste and empowering communities.
2. Food Sharing Platforms - Developing online platforms that allow people to trade food for food, not money can help in minimizing food waste and fostering a sense of community through shared resources.
3. Monetary-free Food Exchanges - Encouraging the idea of exchanging food for food, rather than based on monetary value, creates opportunities that can reduce food waste and transform the way people view food commodities.
Industry Implications
1. Food Waste Reduction - Creating tools and technologies that facilitate the reduction of food waste can create significant positive environmental and social impact.
2. Community Building - Developing innovative ways to build communities around shared interests and resources can foster a culture of collaboration and support.
3. Online Marketplaces - Expanding the use and reach of online marketplaces can create opportunities for exchanging goods, rather than wasting them, with little to no financial transactions.