A new mobile solution against food waste aims to ensure focus on food waste at festivals and events in Roskilde, Frederiksberg, and Copenhagen – and in daily operations, transport even more good surplus food to the homeless and vulnerable with the help of Project Homeless. The initiative has received support from two major players.
Food waste doesn’t just occur at home with consumers. There is also a lot of surplus food hidden in the food industry, which can benefit many people in need. Project Homeless has received support from the Frederiksberg Foundation and Roskilde’s Environmental Fund for a new refrigerated trailer, which will serve two specific purposes.
At various festivals and events in municipalities such as Roskilde, Frederiksberg, and Copenhagen, the refrigerated trailer will be used as an outdoor kitchen to serve good surplus food while also raising awareness about food waste and encouraging Danes to minimize food waste at home.
On a daily basis, the refrigerated trailer will transport even larger amounts of good free surplus food from many food donors to Project Homeless and their partners – so more homeless and vulnerable people can have a warm meal. The refrigerated trailer will function as a two-in-one solution – and the project’s partners are pleased with the effort.
The retail chain REMA 1000 will support the annual operation of the refrigerated trailer – and Denmark’s largest movement against food waste, Stop Wasting Food, will contribute with volunteers and help spread awareness of the initiative.
“The generous donation from the Frederiksberg Foundation, Roskilde’s Environmental Fund, and REMA 1000 will make a huge difference for the city’s homeless,” says the founder of Project Homeless, Gitte Johansen. “Specifically, it means we can now transport larger amounts of food from our food donors to help the city’s vulnerable. Additionally, the refrigerated trailer will be used at festivals and events where we can focus on food waste and teach Danes to become even better at avoiding food waste in their daily lives. I call that a win-win.”
“Frederiksberg is a major experience city, and we believe it’s an important part of a cultural experience to also be responsible towards nature’s resources,” says Martin Dahl, Director of the Frederiksberg Foundation, who is pleased with the project.
“In Roskilde, we have an ambition to reduce food waste as much as possible, as it can reduce the strain on our natural resources. At the same time, food waste and food generally account for a large portion of CO2 emissions. Therefore, in recent years, we have allocated part of the funds from the annual environmental pool to projects that try to reduce food waste. With the refrigerated trailer, it will be possible to be even more proactive and visible in the fight against food waste, while also helping vulnerable citizens. Therefore, we are very happy to have contributed to getting the refrigerated trailer out on the road,” says Karim Friis Arfaoui, Chairman of the Climate and Environment Committee in Roskilde Municipality.
“As the first retail chain in Denmark to seriously join the fight against food waste, we welcome all new initiatives and efforts,” says Anders René Jensen, Purchasing and Marketing Director at REMA 1000. “It’s positive that even greater focus on food waste will be created while even more good surplus food will end up in the stomachs of the homeless.”
Already at the DHL Relay in Copenhagen, the new refrigerated trailer is used to collect good surplus food for the homeless – and from late summer and autumn, Project Homeless and the new refrigerated trailer will be present at events and markets in municipalities such as Roskilde, Frederiksberg, and Copenhagen. The upcoming activities include:
• August 22: Distribution of delicious surplus ice cream from Winterspring Copenhagen made by Michelin chefs
• August 24: Frederiksberg Harvest Festival with a focus on surplus food in connection with Copenhagen Cooking & Food Festival
• August 25: Summer markets in Roskilde and Holbæk focusing on surplus food from local farm shops
• August 26: Summer markets in Roskilde and Holbæk focusing on surplus food from local farm shops
• August 29: Surplus food collection for the homeless at the DHL Relay in Copenhagen in collaboration with Stop Wasting Food and Copenhagen Municipality
These and many more activities will be announced on Project Homeless’ Facebook page, which has over 5,300 followers: www.facebook.com/projekthjemlos.dk
Press release