Dispensa sociale - Social larder
About this good practice
CAUTO has started the food recovery activities in 1993 by the collection of food waste at the wholesale fruit and vegetable market of Brescia and in the years to follow the activity increased.
Nowadays we have a selection platform that receives and selects about 3.000 tons of food waste per year. CAUTO collaborates with a network of big supermarkets mainly located in the Province of Brescia. The supermarkets donate the food waste, so they can reduce disposal costs of mixed and organic waste. CAUTO transports the food in refrigerated trucks and it selects the food in a refrigerated room thanks to the support of volunteers.
The selected food, suitable for human nutrition, is donated to a network of about 200 local charities. The beneficiaries of the charities are thousands of needy people. The food unsuitable for people is donated to local farmer and it is used for animal nutrition.
Food waste extends its own life cycle by becoming food donations for social purposes or turned into animal food, and so no longer just thrown away. The system generates economic benefits for the supermarkets, environmental benefits thanks to waste reduction and social benefits for the charities.
Expert opinion
Globally, food waste alone generates about 8% – 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions. It is estimated that Europe produces 58 million tonnes of food waste each year, equivalent to €132 billion. The reduction of food loss and waste is an important part of EU’s Green Deal and its Farm to Fork Strategy and Circular Economy Action Plan. Member States are required to take the necessary measures to reduce food waste by the end of 2030: by 10%, in processing and manufacturing, by 30% (per capita), jointly at retail and consumption (restaurants, food services and households). Responsible management of surplus food has the potential to address two issues at once, food security and environmental strain, i.e. the need to feed more people, while creating a more sustainable and resistant food supply chain. The good practice from Brescia demonstrates how surplus vegetables and fruit can be diverted from waste and instead distributed to people in need. The good practice can provide inspiration to other EU regions addressing this important issue.
Resources needed
2) Employees (3 people) for coordination
3) Refrigerated trucks
4) Work area with refrigerated cells
5) Local network of food donors (big stores)
6) Local network of charities (beneficiaries)
Evidence of success
2) Economic Multiplier effect: CAUTO investes about 150.000 euro and it distributes a value of 2.500.000 euro (3,2 million of kg x 0,5 euro/kg)
3) Waste Reduction:
- mixed waste (usually supermarkets don’t separate food waste because it is
a mixture between organic and packaging)
- organic waste produced
4) Positive social impact: about 40 % of volunteers are "fragile people"
Potential for learning or transfer
For instance it was replicated in 2013 by the social cooperative Babale Sociale in Umbria Region (http://www.babelesociale.com/servizi/dispensa-solidale/).
We are available to transfer the model in other social cooperatives, associations, charities around Europe.
Further information
Website
Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.
CAUTO Cantiere Autolimitazione
