Zero Waste with Meal Sharing Apps

Zero Waste with Meal Sharing Apps

Meal sharing apps are transforming how communities tackle food waste, making it easy to redistribute surplus food, connect with neighbors, and support businesses in sustainable practices. Here’s how these innovative platforms help achieve zero waste goals:

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What Are Meal Sharing Apps?

Meal sharing apps and platforms enable users to share, request, or rescue edible food that might otherwise go to waste. These can range from neighborhood exchanges to business partnerships, bringing efficiency and kindness into food systems.

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Leading Apps Making a Difference

• Too Good To Go
  Lets users buy discounted surplus food from local shops, cafés, and restaurants. Every “surprise bag” collected keeps unsold food from landfills and makes meals more affordable.
• Olio
  Connects neighbors, retailers, and volunteers to share or collect surplus food. Whether it’s groceries approaching their “use by” date or leftovers after an event, Olio rescues edible food and fosters a culture of sharing.
• Karma
  Allows users to see and purchase specific surplus dishes from eateries at reduced prices—eliminating surprise and letting users choose. Karma has saved millions of meals from disposal by linking hospitality and consumers.
• Geev
  Enables users to give away or pick up food (and other items), directly supporting zero waste at the household level.
• NoWaste, Kitche, nosh, CozZo
  These home inventory apps help users track what’s in their fridge, get reminders for expiring food, and plan meals using what’s left—directly reducing household food waste.
• Cultivate Project
  A European initiative supporting digital food sharing platforms, policy, and community engagement to make urban food systems resilient and waste-free.

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How Apps Support Zero Waste

• Connect surplus with demand: Restaurants, grocers, and households list surplus food, so others can collect before it spoils.
• Save money, feed people: Food is sold or shared at steep discounts or for free, making meals accessible for everyone.
• Data-driven improvement: Users and businesses receive feedback and data to improve purchasing and reduce future waste.
• Community building: Sharing apps foster a neighborly spirit, educate on “best before” vs “use by” labels, and encourage regular waste-reducing habits.