If food waste were a country it would be the third largest CO2-producer in the world, only superseded by the US and China. The crazy thing is most of the food that ends up in in the trash is still perfectly fine to eat. And we’re not just talking food that is approaching it’s best before by date. We’re talking funny looking vegetables, batches of produce that had other minor flaws or simply overproduction. Fact is with the food that is being produced globally we could feed the world’s population four times over.
But change may be on the horizon. In Germany, there is a food start up that has decided to battle this reality. SIRPLUS cooperates with producers, wholesalers and farmers where they buy produce that would otherwise go to waste. All produce is spot-checked for safety and quality and then sold at greatly reduced rates. In fact most of their produce is reduced by 30%-80% compared to regular retail prices which means customers are not just helping reduce food waste but also saving money — a true win-win situation.
To find out more about this concept we reached out to SIRPLUS and asked them a few questions.
1) Garage: Your concept is as brilliant as it is simple. How did you come up with it?
SIRPLUS: Raphael Fellmer has been campaigning against food waste since 2009. He started with dumpster diving in The Hague before he hitchhiked from Holland to Mexico in 2010 without any money. For a total of 15 months, he fed on what others no longer wanted to eat or sell. During this trip he became aware of how much food is wasted and how many people, in contrast, suffer from hunger every day. On his return to Germany, he began his money strike to raise awareness of food waste and its consequences. In 2011 Raphael Fellmer and Martin Schott got to know each other — the founding duo has been committed to create more food appreciation ever since. With Martin’s support, Raphael initiated the foodsharing movement, which now has more than 45,000 food savers saving food at over 4500 companies. With SIRPLUS, the two Berliners want to make food saving mainstream, because this is the only way they believe that SIRPLUS’ vision that all people have enough to eat and that all food is eaten is possible.
We in the western world live in an enormous affluent society in which we no longer give our food the appreciation it deserves. In Germany alone, 18 million tons are wasted every year. An incredible amount of resources flow into every product and, in addition, a large amount of CO2 is produced during production. That is why it is even more important that we treat our products sustainably and value them. Because every food deserves to be eaten.
2) Garage: What is the most common reaction when people first find out about your concept? What is the most common critical question that you get?
SIRPLUS: 99% of the time we get a very positive reaction. Most people really like the concept and are very happy, that we have made it our mission to fight food waste.
Some people think, that it is not allowed in Germany to sell products, which have passed their best before date. However, this is not true. Every supermarket in Germany in legally allowed to sell expired produce as long as they ensure its edibility and make the customers aware of the expired date.
3) Garage: First people went vegetarian, then they went vegan. What do you think the next big food trend will be?
SIRPLUS: Rescued food. The topic has been getting more and more awareness in the last year and more companies have made it their mission to rescue food, hence it becomes easier for people to be part of that movement.
4) Garage: What is your plan for the next five years? What do you hope to achieve in that time?
SIRPLUS: Our goal is for all people to trust their senses instead of just looking at the best before date. We want everyone to be aware of their responsibility to use our food in a sustainable way and that it is ethically unacceptable to waste half of all food in the EU. Therefore we will save 5 million tons of food in the next 10 years and be active in more than 15 countries to make foodsaving mainstream. We are committed to create more awareness and foster a change of thinking in society, politics and economy. Only together we can sustainably reduce the 1.6 billion tons of food wasted worldwide every year.
5) Garage: Other than saving food, do you have one other good tip to live more sustainably?
SIRPLUS: We think, that everyone can help and make a difference. With our consumer behaviour we have a great power, whether we like it or not. Hence, you can always choose if you buy ecological and local produce and therefore support small farmers that work without pesticides. Plastic is also a very big problem of our time. However, there are so many better, long lasting options in comparison to plastic. That is why we have now also added a package free corner in our store in Steglitz as well as offering other products, such as stainless steel containers, bamboo toothbrushes and menstruation cups.
We think that everyone can be a part to make the world a better place. We want to leave our beautiful planet in a good condition for our children and grandchildren to live on.
Currently SIRPLUS is selling produce online and in a number of stores around Berlin. So far they’ve been able to return 1000 tons of food into circulation.
Have you ever saved food before?
