White Paper on food surplus donation
The issue of food waste is increasingly central today, due to the growing awareness of sustainable development and its social, environmental and economic implications. In a world with limited resources, producing food surpluses is not only an ethical problem, but also a failure of efficiency and collective responsibility. Although linked to consumer freedom of choice, the current model needs to be rethought to find a balance between abundance and real need.
Food waste deeply affects public opinion, perhaps also because of a cultural memory that attributes a central value to food. Indeed, food remains an indicator of quality of life and fair access to it is still a challenge for many.
The White Paper, promoted by Fondazione Valore and produced by EURICSE, analyses the role of food surplus donation for social purposes, nine years after the introduction of Law 166/2016. The book brings together research, data and testimonies, with a particular focus on the Third Sector, which is fundamental for the recovery and redistribution of surplus food.
The text is divided into three chapters:
- Definitions and impacts of loss, waste and surplus, with an analysis of the donation process and the actors involved.
- European legislation, with a focus on recent developments and the legislation of individual European states.
- Analysis of Italian legislation and eight practical experiences of organisations active in combating waste, showing different models but united by the same objective: reducing waste and promoting a culture of recovery.
