food+
Šifra prijedloga: Hrana-nije-Otpad-2019-11-74
Integrated platform combining food sharing, food ordering and health apps.
Key problem - Main issue we want to solve:
Large quantity of food is discarded by households and food sellers, and should be solved via Integrated platform tailored for both consumers and vendors.
Solution hypothesis:
While interviewing food service professionals we’ve determined the following:
- Partially consumed food in restaurants is discarded and thrown into trash, as is untouched surplus food, except in some cases when it’s taken home by employees. As one restaurant employee said, it breaks his heart to see the amount of food thrown away on a daily basis.
- Grocery stores tend to lower the prices for food items close to their best before date, but it is not profitable for them to pay advertisements for a small amount of cheap food. Food past its best before date is usually returned to the supplier.
There seems a will to improve among food purveyors, but the biggest problem is not having an opportunity or ease to do so.
Solving the issue should be multi-layered. It should give every participant a sense of achievement, of being productive, of contributing. It should combine food sharing / donation apps with food ordering apps and health apps (calorie intake calculator, daily activity calculator, nutritional value calculator).
The mentioned platform would be separated into different categories: consumers/people, restaurants and grocery stores. It would be tailored to entice each group into doing additional effort in order to conserve food. The entire concept is based on motivating each group by allowing them to see both personal benefits and societal impact. The individual categories would have access to the following features:
- Consumers: the health and money-saving aspects of the application would be the main draw for potential members of this group, and their use of the app would result in the reduction of food waste. The health aspect of the application would entail entering their height, weight and fitness goals into the app, and receiving suggested number of calories and types of meals. The economizing aspect would allow them to purchase food from local restaurants and grocery stores at reduced prices. They could also drop off excess food at drop off points.
- Restaurants - restaurants might be drawn to the app by the possibility of selling excess food which might otherwise have been thrown out. When ordering food, the platform would allow the restaurant’s patrons to select sides, toppings, number of bread slices etc. which should lower the expenses for the restaurant. At the end of the day, the extra food made in restaurants can be advertised as daily deals, and people would be able to buy pre-made food for a fraction of the price. Restaurants would also have options to donate their food to soup kitchens instead of selling them. This donation would be noted in the restaurant’s profile on the platform and shown in number of donated meals.
- Grocery stores - this platform would allow similar deals as for restaurants. Since most canned food can be used some 6 months after the best before date, grocery stores would have similar deals as restaurants - selling for lower price or donating it.
Sustainability and logistics:
Donated food needs to be delivered. The more easy and convenient donating food is, the more likely people are to do it. One logical solution would be to use municipality buildings as drop off points, receiving donated food in the morning and evening.
Donated food would be classified into 3 groups
- non contaminated food - fresh food that is made earlier but not consumed,
- partially eaten food - leftovers partially consumed that can be fed to animals in animal shelters and used as animal food
- as compost - food that has gone bad and isn't edible
Human resources: The app would create employment opportunities. Another idea is to include students - universities and high schools can decide to give extra credit for certain subjects to students included in this program.
Platform:
For consumers - the platform would allow them to create a profile, order food, see daily deals, and see drop off points for food donations. The user could see different locations directly on the “Map” tab or in the “Deals” list. “My meals” would show proposed calorie intake as well as currently ordered meals.
For food vendors - app would allow them to create their profile, take orders, add daily deals, and see drop off points for food donations. There would be four tabs for restaurants and grocery stores on the main page of the app. The map tab would have restaurant’s location, locations for deliveries, and donation drop off points. The second tab would have list of deliveries (for restaurants mostly, but can be used for stores if they deliver groceries). Deals and donations would be added via the bottom right button and would be additionally displayed in their own tabs.
Conclusion:
Our firm belief is that the integrated platform is a way to go, since its scope would cover more points, give different motivators, multiply reasons and opportunities, and compel people to make the best of the food that is left over.