The Association of Volunteers of Galdakao recently devised a campaign for installing a public fridge on the streets of Galdakao, Spain. The idea behind installing the 'Solidarity Fridge' was to not to try and combat hunger in the community, but to combat food waste.
The Solidarity Fridge is located on a public city street and residents are free to leave food behind or take food home to eat. By giving residents a space to exchange meals, the public fridge helps preserve food that would otherwise be thrown out. As volunteer Álvaro Saiz points out, "at the end of the day it’s about recovering the value of food products and fighting against waste."
While the Solidarity Fridge has only been in operation for about two months, it has already managed to salvage between 440 and 660 pounds of food. Donations have been provided not only by the public, but also by local restaurants.
Waste-Reducing Public Refrigerators
This Public Fridge Lets Anyone Take or Leave Leftover Food
Trend Themes
1. Public Food Sharing - Opportunity for businesses to implement public food sharing initiatives and reduce food waste.
2. Community Food Exchange - Potential for creating platforms or spaces where residents can exchange excess food items and reduce waste.
3. Sustainable Food Distribution - Potential for establishing more sustainable food distribution systems using public fridges or similar concepts.
Industry Implications
1. Food Technology - Disruptive innovation opportunities in developing technologies to monitor and maintain the quality of food in public fridges.
2. Hospitality - Opportunity for restaurants and hotels to participate in community food sharing initiatives, reducing wastage and enhancing sustainability.
3. Smart City - Potential for integrating public fridges as part of smart city infrastructure, promoting food sharing and waste reduction.