A 'surprise' fix for food waste

The ‘Too Good To Go’ app has landed in Melbourne, the first Australian city to join the global surplus food network.

The app allows shoppers to purchase ‘surprise’ food bags containing goods at a reduced price that would otherwise be thrown out.

Food waste is a staggering global problem, estimated to generate 8-10% of all greenhouse gas emissions according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

Too Good To Go is a Danish B-Corp that describes its marketplace as a ‘win-win-win’. This is because it helps retailers generate income from food that would otherwise head to landfill, supplies shoppers with quality food at reasonable prices and will also help to slash Australia’s annual food waste tally.

With more than 100 million registered users across 18 countries, Too Good To Go has grown into the world’s largest platform for surplus food, and the startup says it has saved over 350 million meals, equivalent to avoiding 945,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions since its launch in 2016.

"We cannot afford to waste food—it’s too valuable for society, the economy, and the planet."

The launch location reflected Melbourne’s “vibrant food culture and clear recognition of the value of food,” Australian country director Joost Rietveld said.

Its free-to-download app will allow shoppers to purchase a ‘surprise bag’ containing unsold food from bakeries, cafes, restaurants, and grocery stores at a discount.

Over 80 Melbourne businesses have signed up to the platform so far, including Abacus Bar and Kitchen, Undercover Roasters, Wabi Sushi, FoodCo’s Muffin Break and Jamaica Blue.

Global CEO Mette Lykke described the company's expansion into Australia last month as a "major milestone".

"We cannot afford to waste food—it’s too valuable for society, the economy, and the planet,” she said.

The app is available for download in the Apple App Store and Google Play for Android.