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The Produce Gang in Biedronka. We know how to get a mascot
In the week of the International Food Waste Awareness Day (29.09), the Biedronka chain has prepared a number of initiatives aimed at educating people about ways to keep products fresh and fit for consumption longer, as well as how to manage them rationally and, as a result, not waste them. As part of the campaign, a new version of the free e-book “Time to Not Waste Food” was created, which is available for download using a QR code. The book contains recipes developed by culinary specialists, based on the idea of “zero waste”, as well as many tips and ideas for creating delicious dishes from leftovers in the fridge.
The Produce Gang throws down a challenge
According to estimates, each person wastes about 80 kg of food per year. The annual sum of all products thrown away from households around the world would provide at least one meal per day for all people affected by hunger, as indicated by UNEP data. The products that most often end up in Polish bins are: bread (52%), fruit (38%), vegetables (36%) and cold cuts (32%). Fortunately, there are simple ways to prevent this. The Produce Gang comes to the rescue, which in 6 simple challenges will help to keep fridges full of fresh products, and as a result, the bins will remain empty. The challenges of the Gang members encourage an active attitude and taking action to reduce unnecessary food waste.
The Biedronka app encourages you to plan ahead and make a shopping list before visiting the store, so that you don't end up in your basket with unnecessary products that could go to waste. Pieróg Patryk, on the other hand, recommends regularly checking the expiration dates of products in the fridge and using those that may spoil soon. Products that require refrigeration should always be in the fridge, and they should be taken out just before consumption, as Serek Waniliowy Sławek encourages. Malina Malwina reminds us that fresh products should be consumed as soon as possible after purchase and not left for a long time. In order to extend the expiration date of fresh products, such as Groszek Grześ and Grażynka, the heroes of the Gang encourage them to undergo heat treatment or freeze them. The last challenge is encouraged by Ziemniak Ziemowit himself, to remember to store products properly, depending on their specificity and needs.
– In Poland, as much as 60% of food is wasted in our homes, which is why the Biedronka chain is taking a number of actions to counteract this phenomenon. Together with our partners, including Caritas and the Federation of Polish Food Banks, we conduct educational activities aimed at further sensitizing customers to the problem of food waste. We carry out our educational mission, among others, through information campaigns in stores, on digital media, as well as on the Internet and on paper shopping bags sold periodically in our stores. Since 2016, the chain has also been implementing a project to transfer food products with a short shelf life to Public Benefit Organizations supporting people in need. Currently, Biedronka cooperates with over 150 OPPs throughout the country. In the years 2020-2023, Biedronka donated over 55,000 tons of food products to organizations with a total value of over PLN 670 million.
Dagmara Łakoma, Senior Environmental Protection Manager at Biedronka
With Biedronka nothing goes to waste either
Food waste occurs throughout the supply chain. According to UNEP, 131 million tons of food are wasted in retail. That is why the Biedronka chain takes action at the early stages of food distribution, including by optimizing daily deliveries, ensuring proper storage conditions for goods, and using a discount system for food with a short shelf life.
In addition, in 500 stores throughout Poland, customers can use the Too Good to Go application, in which they can buy surprise packages with products that are about to expire, at a price that is about 30% of the value of the items. In 2023, as part of the cooperation, Biedronka delivered over a million packages, which prevented the waste of about 1,600 tons of food.
Biedronka Education Days for Children
Remembering that it is through play that children learn and discover the world around them, the chain has prepared a special event called “Food Waste Education Days”, which will start on September 29 and last until October 3, 2024 at the Smart Play Center located in the Norblin Factory, at ul. Żelazna 51/53.
During the event, many attractive educational games have been planned, which will show the correct habits of responsible food handling in an accessible and interesting way. Children will be able to take part in quizzes and a wheel of fortune with prizes, learn how to segregate waste, take part in a giant puzzle, play detectives of expiration dates, create creative shopping lists or take part in culinary workshops.