We were accompanied by Journal for this article.
Author: Daniel
Political demands against food loss and waste
Press Release Foodsharing Luxembourg, 21st March 2023
On the occasion of this year’s national elections and the urgent nature of the climate crisis, Foodsharing Luxembourg a.s.b.l. publishes demands on Luxembourg’s policy to combat food loss and waste.
“Around a third of all food produced worldwide is not eaten! [1]” says Michelle Kleyr, co-founder of Foodsharing Luxembourg, “The resources it contains, such as working hours, water, transport, etc., are also wasted.” This has devastating effects on the environment and climate. Daniel Waxweiler, co-founder of the association, explains: “According to the IPCC report of 2019, between 2010 and 2016 alone, food loss and waste were responsible for 8 to 10% of all greenhouse gas emissions.”
Michelle Kleyr points to the striking national situation: “In Luxembourg, according to the latest Eurostat figures, this corresponds to an average of 147 kg per person per year.[2] Two-thirds of these are generated at home, well above the already high EU average of 127 kg.” There are effective solutions along the value chain, many of which could be implemented relatively easily by politicians. Other EU countries, such as France, Italy, Romania, Spain and the Czech Republic, have already introduced legal measures against this. Daniel Waxweiler emphasises: “We urgently need an improved legal situation against food loss and waste in Luxembourg!”
Our 9 demands were published on our website in February and sent to environment and agriculture ministries as well as to all parties.
Several Luxembourg organisations have already expressed their public support for our demands. The list is constantly updated on our website.
[1] United Nations on food loss and waste: https://www.un.org/en/observances/end-food-waste-day
[2] IPCC Special Report on Climate Change and Land, August 2019, Chapter 5: https://www.ipcc.ch/site/assets/uploads/sites/4/2019/11/08_Chapter-5.pdf
[3] EU food loss and waste figures 2020 published by Eurostat, 2022: https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/en/web/products-eurostat-news/-/ddn-20220925-2
100,7: “Keng Distribution Days méi zu Lëtzebuerg”
Today 100,7 published an radio interview on the end of the Distribution Days.
End of the Distribution Days project
We have some not so good news. Foodsharing Luxembourg on the 31st January 2023 made the hard decision that the Distribution Days will cease to operate.
The Distribution Days project faced internal problems and according to EU legislation are classified as a ‘business’, which meant they needed to comply with food standard regulations, which were difficult for a voluntary-run association.
The Distribution Days lead people to believe the whole of Foodsharing Luxembourg is a charity. Our main focus is the environmental aspect of food loss and waste, and we don’t want to compete with the many established charities providing professional support. We understand this perception during these difficult times, however this was never our goal. Our long-term aim is to have laws tackling food loss and food waste, so that the amounts of food that are thrown away are dramatically reduced.
Also, the Distribution Days were not in line with their goal of distributing large quantities any more. The main reason is that some businesses have now dramatically reduced their quantities, so this food could easily be shared between Foodsavers. We as an association are happy about this reduction in food waste!
We recognise the huge contribution of the Distribution Days. There has been a lot of energy, passion and time put into them. We would like to thank everyone helping out at or coming to Distribution Days for their contribution to our vision to make sure that “all edible foods in Luxembourg are consumed”!
Our Foodsaving project will take over picking up and redistributing the food designated for the Distribution Days. If you want to join us as a Foodsaver, register. Our next information sessions will be announced in the upcoming weeks and are open for everybody interested to become active in Foodsharing Luxembourg.
100,7 interview about Distribution Days
Annick describes our Distribution Days in this interview on 100,7.
100,7 interview
Our association has been generally described in this interview on 100,7.
RTL visits Distribution Days in Beaufort
RTL has made a report about our Distribution Days in Beaufort.
Foodsharing Point inauguration
Today, the first public fridge, also known as Foodsharing Point, has been inaugurated in front of the shop Naturwelten, rue Auguste Charles 7, Bonnevoie, Luxembourg City. Co-funded by the Ministery for Cooperation and Humanitarian Action and Frères des Hommes Luxembourg in the framework of Education for Sustainable Development, the project consists of the provision of a publicly accessible fridge that serves as a food exchange point for private individuals. In fact, private households are responsible for 75% of food waste, for around 89 kg per person per year. This project starts here and is accessible for everybody around the clock.
Media coverage
Report on RTL Radio Luxembourg
RTL Radio Luxembourg has aired an interview with Daniel and Fern today. It can be read and listened to here.
Article in Luxemburger Wort
Luxemburger Wort has an article about our Distribution Days and our Foodsharing Point in their today’s edition.