TemaNord 2014:562 TemaNord TemaNord 2014:562 TemaNord Ved Stranden 18 DK-1061 Copenhagen K www.norden.org Food Redistribution in the Nordic Region Experiences and results from a pilot study Food Redistribution in the Nordic Region This report has a focus on waste prevention through redistribution of food to low-income people via charity organisations. Food redistribution can go via national food banks and via direct redistribution, often on a local level. Food banks redistributed about 1,5 mill meals in 2013, and local charity organisations probably 2–3 times more. The regulatory framework for food redistribution is described and discussed. The demand of and potential for redistribution is probably much higher than at present, and the reports points out strategies and measures for how food banks can contribute to secure and further develop. The report is part of the Nordic Prime Ministers’ overall green growth initiative: “The Nordic Region – leading in green growth” – read more in the web magazine “Green Growth the Nordic Way.” TemaNord 2014:562 ISBN 978-92-893-3856-1 (PRINT) ISBN 978-92-893-3857-8 (PDF) ISBN 978-92-893-3855-4 (EPUB) ISSN 0908-6692 TN2014562 omslag.indd 1 10-12-2014 11:02:28 Food Redistribution in the Nordic Region Experiences and results from a pilot study Ole Jørgen Hanssen, Per Ekegren, Irmelin Gram-Hanssen, Pirjo Korpela, Nanna Langevad-Clifforth, Kristin Skov-Olsen, Kirsi Silvennoinen, Malin Stare, Åsa Stenmarck and Erik Svanes TemaNord 2014:562 Food Redistribution in the Nordic Region Experiences and results from a pilot study Ole Jørgen Hanssen, Per Ekegren, Irmelin Gram-Hanssen, Pirjo Korpel, Nanna Langevad-Clifforth, Kristin Skov-Olsen, Kirsi Silvennoinen, Malin Stare, Åsa Stenmarck and Erik Svanes ISBN 978-92-893-3856-1 (PRINT) ISBN 978-92-893-3857-8 (PDF) ISBN 978-92-893-3855-4 (EPUB) http://dx.doi.org/10.6027/TN2014-562 TemaNord 2014:562 ISSN 0908-6692 © Nordic Council of Ministers 2014 Layout: Hanne Lebech Cover photo: SignElements Print: Rosendahls-Schultz Grafisk Printed in Denmark This publication has been published with financial support by the Nordic Council of Ministers. However, the contents of this publication do not necessarily reflect the views, policies or recom- mendations of the Nordic Council of Ministers. www.norden.org/en/publications Nordic co-operation Nordic co-operation is one of the world’s most extensive forms of regional collaboration, involv- ing Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and the Faroe Islands, Greenland, and Åland. Nordic co-operation has firm traditions in politics, the economy, and culture. It plays an im- portant role in European and international collaboration, and aims at creating a strong Nordic community in a strong Europe. Nordic co-operation seeks to safeguard Nordic and regional interests and principles in the global community. Common Nordic values help the region solidify its position as one of the world’s most innovative and competitive. Nordic Council of Ministers Ved Stranden 18 DK-1061 Copenhagen K Phone (+45) 3396 0200 www.norden.org Content Foreword ................................................................................................................................................... 7 Summary ................................................................................................................................................... 9 1. Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 15 2. Goal and scope of the report .................................................................................................... 17 3. Status of knowledge – food redistribution ......................................................................... 19 4. Methods and data gathering .................................................................................................... 25 5. Laws and regulations influencing food redistribution in the Nordic region .......... 29 5.1 EU Regulations and Common laws and regulations in the Nordic region influencing food redistribution ................................................................... 29 5.2 National measures to make food redistribution possible ................................ 35 5.3 Potential for clarifications in Nordic regulations and measures ................... 44 6. Food banks – experiences from Nordic countries ......................................................... 45 6.1 Status on establishment of food banks in the Nordic countries .................... 45 6.2 Organisation of food banks – experiences ............................................................. 45 6.3 Food redistribution through food banks – volumes per year ........................ 47 6.4 Collaboration with food donors and charity organisations – experiences ....................................................................................................................... 48 6.5 Collaboration with other initiatives nationally and locally – experiences ....................................................................................................................... 50 6.6 Contact with authorities nationally and locally ................................................... 50 6.7 Overall lessons to be learned ..................................................................................... 51 7. Food redistribution at the local/regional levels ............................................................... 53 7.1 General introduction to the survey .......................................................................... 53 7.2 National report from Sweden .................................................................................... 53 7.3 National report from Finland ..................................................................................... 61 7.4 National report from Denmark .................................................................................. 70 7.5 National report from Norway .................................................................................... 79 7.6 Overall lessons to be learned from the survey..................................................... 84 8. Overall conclusions and recommendations ....................................................................... 89 8.1 Food redistribution in the perspective of waste prevention – what is the potential ................................................................................................................. 89 8.2 Organisation and financing of food redistribution nationally and locally – potential for improvements .................................................................... 92 8.3 Laws and regulations – Nordic harmonization to balance food securtity and waste prevention targets? What can other authorities do to promote food redistribution? ........................................................................... 94 8.4 Need for further studies ............................................................................................... 95 9. References ...................................................................................................................................... 97 10. Appendix ......................................................................................................................................... 99 List of contacts/interviewees .................................................................................................. 99 Food Banks ................................................................................................................................... 103 Foreword This report has been developed within the Green Growth Program of the Prime Ministers in the Nordic region and is a good illustration on how three areas of politics can be combined: Environmental politics through food waste prevention. Social security politics through increased welfare for low-income people. Food safety politics through making food redistribution possible within the framework of food safety regulations. The Nordic region is a leading region in Europe on food waste surveys and prevention, but is not among the leading regions in terms of redis- tribution of food. This report provides the basis for a strategy on how to further develop redistribution of food in the Nordic region, both nation- ally and regionally through food banks as well as locally through direct redistribution. The follow-up to this report will focus on a Nordic model for how to develop food redistribution further, by building on the role of both food banks and local, direct redistribution. Dagfinn Høybråten Secretary General Nordic Council of Ministers Summary This report summarizes experiences from Phase I in a Nordic project on food redistribution through food banks and direct redistribution, as well as giving an overview of laws and regulations on the area. The project was initiated by the Nordic Council of Ministers as part of the Nordic Prime Ministers’ green growth iniatiative, The Nordic Region – leading in green growth, with budget from the Food and Agriculture program. The project has focused on redistribution of food that has been donated to prevent food waste, which means that ordinary sponsored food, ei- ther free of charge or to a very low price, is not included. The main goals of this study and the report has been to: Give an overview and evaluation of the extent and potential effects of food redistribution in the Nordic region, both via food banks and