Food waste in Berlin: 11 tons in the trash every year!

Food waste in Berlin: 11 tons in the trash every year!

In Germany, around 11 million tons of food are thrown away every year, many of which are still edible. This massive waste is an urgent problem, especially in large cities such as Berlin. The online supermarket Motatos , founded in Stockholm in 2014, has set itself the task of selling saved foods. These products often have expired best -preservation data (MHD), beauty macelaries or come from overproduction, and represent an important resource to reduce waste.

Dominique Ertl, the managing director of Motatos in Germany and Austria, describes the company as a place where food that does not get into the supermarkets can find a new buyer. Their range includes everyday food and unusual products of smaller brands, with delivery to the front door across Germany. The offer is not sufficient for a complete weekly purchase, but the farmers' markets could serve as a supplementary source.

A call for education and necessary measures

Ertl emphasizes the need for education about food and sustainability, especially in older generations. Enlightenment about the best -before date could have a major impact on reducing food waste. The social and economic dimension of this problem is enormous: 8 to 10 percent of global greenhouse gases come from food waste, which clearly shows that the right storage and less throw away not only save money, but also reduce CO₂ footprint.

Germany plays a key role in Europe. Every year, around 60 million tons of food are wasted in the EU - this corresponds to a value of around 132 billion euros. The need for binding national goals to reduce this waste is undisputed. The online supermarket Motatos calls for flanking measures that go beyond the previous efforts.

political impulses of the EU

The European Union has recognized that it has to act as a great player in food production and processing. In July 2023, the EU Commission submitted a proposal to revise the waste framework directive. The goal of the revision is to reduce food and textile waste until the end of 2030 with binding destinations: 10 percent reduction in food processing and production and 30 percent in retail as well as in households. In March 2024, a point of view was taken in the European Parliament, which demands an even more ambitious reduction of 20 percent in food processing and 40 percent in the rest of the chain.

These measures are underpinned by scientific arguments that state that these goals can contribute to significantly reducing the economic and ecological costs of food waste. There are also suggestions for the promotion of "ugly" fruit and vegetables as well as to clarify the date marking in order to reduce misunderstandings and to secure foods that are still consumable for the donation.

Ultimately, Dominique Ertl emphasizes that Germany, as the largest economy in Europe, should take on a pioneering role in reducing food waste. A strong commitment to German politics is necessary to achieve the given goals and to raise awareness of sustainable food use. So that the message is clear: everyone can help in the fight against food waste, be it companies or private households.