September 29: International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste

Recognizing the importance of food waste, the United Nations has established September 29 as International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste

Who does food waste concern?

All of us.

According to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (Sub-goal 12.3) that bind the EU and our country, food waste should be reduced by 50% by 2030.

Food waste, although not a current phenomenon, today concerns us more and more because it causes significant environmental, economic and social problems.

The Phenomenon size in numbers:

• 1/3 of the world's food is lost after harvest
• About 1 trillion dollars a year is the value of food waste worldwide
• Food waste accounts for 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions
• One ton of organic waste releases about 1 ton of methane into the atmosphere (25 times more harmful than CO2)
• An average Greek family throws away more than 460 portions of food
• The value of the food waste of an average Greek family amounts to €1000 per year

Sources: FAO, DEAPT 2021-2022

What can we do:

Fighting waste is one of the most effective ways to tackle the climate crisis. At the same time, it contributes to the reduction of food insecurity, saving money and the gradual transition to more sustainable food systems.

The implementation of rational management & prevention practices, the rescue - through donation - of food surpluses at every level of the food chain, the utilization of research and technology and primarily the acquisition of new consumption habits at the household level, are the solutions to ensure a sustainable future.

Food Saving Week- We Love Food, Not Waste

On the occasion of September 29 and with the message "We love food, Not Waste", the Boroume organization implements the week "Food Saving Week" from September 26 to October 2.

During this time, it will carry out information actions aimed at preventing the phenomenon and mobilizing the parties involved in the stages of the supply chain, as well as rescue and food supply actions for our fellow human beings experiencing food insecurity.

At the same time, Boroume will implement - with the support of the Green Fund of the Ministry of Environment and Energy - an online information campaign with the aim of informing and raising public awareness of the environmental and especially the economic impact of food waste.

For the implementation of the above, synergies will be developed with companies, agencies and organizations, always with the participation of the organization's volunteers.

Indicative Actions

• On Saturday October 1st Boroume is organizing an event entitled "We love Food, not Waste" at the Golden Hall. Visitors will have the opportunity to learn about ways to reduce food waste. Children will be able to participate in interactive activities of the educational program " Boroume at School"
• On Wednesday and Thursday, September 28 and 29 respectively, Boroume and the Chefs’ Club of Greece will carry out the action "Save & Cook for a good cause". A group of Boroume volunteers will collect surplus fruits & vegetables as part of the "Boroume at the Farmers’ Market" program and in collaboration with the Chefs' Club of Greece will cook to offer the products saved from the food market to a non-profit organization that supports our fellow human beings in need
• On Wednesday, September 28, Boroume participates in the "Green Destinations & Future of Tourism Summit 2022 in Athens" with the central theme of the speech being food waste and its connection with sustainable and sustainable tourism
• Between September 26-30, a radio spot by Boroume about food waste will be broadcast on P/S Music 89.2 FM & Sfera 102.2
• On September 27, the educational program "Boroume at School" will be presented to elementary school students at the Loulis Museum

Boroume's work

Boroume, which completes ten years of operation this year, has developed a holistic approach to dealing with food waste in our country:

• >60 million servings of food saved & donated
• 650 non-profit organizations throughout Greece have received food support
• food saved corresponds to 88,200,000 kg of CO2 eq prevented from burdening the atmosphere
• 90 million euro of food value (assuming an average value of 1.5€ per portion)
• 1€ operating cost of Boroume = 65 portions of food saved & offered
• >750,000 kg of food has been saved & donated by 32 street markets since 2015
• 25,000 students have participated in Boroume at School since 2015 (Ioannina, Corinth, Rhodes, Evros, Kavala, Nafplio, Heraklion, Lasithi, Thessaloniki and Athens)
• 2,500 volunteers have supported Boroume's work
• €1,679,164 in donations has been converted into supermarket gift vouchers for beneficiaries of 200 municipal social services
• Boroume coordinate the Alliance for the Reduction of Food Waste in Greece, the collective effort in which public authorities, professional and scientific bodies, food and catering businesses from all stages of the supply chain, civil society organizations and bodies of the academic and research community. The Alliance, which is under the auspices of the Ministry of Environment & Energy, currently has 67 participants
• Creation of the "No Food Waste" Certification Scheme in collaboration with TÜV Austria Hellas, which highlights the social responsibility, environmental awareness and business ethics of an organization, which contributes to the reduction of food waste
• Since 2016 Boroume is an active member of the European Union Platform on Food Losses and Waste
• For its actions, Boroume has been awarded - amongst others - the European Citizen Award 2017 and the Islands of Quality 2015 by the European Parliament.

According to Boroume's co-founder and Chief Food Saving Warrior, Alexandros Theodoridis, "if we could summarize in one sentence the effects of food waste and at the same time the challenges of dealing with the phenomenon, it would be: by reducing food waste, we save euro, protect our environment, and support society".