Food redistribution in Stockholm : A comparative analysis of two scenarios – with and without a food bank

• Main Author: Persson, Anna
• Format: Others
• Language: English
• Published: KTH, Industriell ekologi 2016
• Subjects: Food redistribution; Food waste prevention; Climate impacts; Costs
• Online Access: http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-192328

Food waste is a serious problem in today’s society. Functional food waste is going to waste treatment while people are suffering from food insecurity. Food redistribution in form of a central food bank which collects food waste at food companies and delivers it to social organizations is a measure to deal with this issue. Stockholm City Mission plans to start up a central food bank in Stockholm and it is this implementation that is of focus in this report. The purpose of this study is to compare two scenarios, with and without a food bank, and evaluate this food bank regarding the possibilities for reduced climate impacts and the economic outcomes of the involving actors (food companies, the central food bank and social organizations). The methods used are literature studies, interviews and a material flow analysis to be able to follow the flows of food through the redistribution system. The results found are that costs can be saved for the actors involved and whether the food bank will go with profit depends on the revenues that can be collected from the involved actors and external investors. Climate impacts are reduced as a result of the implementation, mainly in terms of that functional food waste avoids waste treatment and can be of use.