Words by Smiley Team
Milan has become the world’s first major city to create a city-wide food waste policy, redesigning food systems in support of disadvantaged people and the planet.
After winning £1 million from the international Earthshot Prize for environmental initiatives, authorities will now launch two new centres dedicated to expanding this municipal effort.
Introduced in 2019, the city’s zero-waste policy aims to halve food waste by 2030 and redistribute food to poorer households, largely with the help of food hubs set up across the city. Now, with the Earthshot Prize money, the authorities in partnership with NGOs will scale up the initiative, introducing an additional two hubs to collect and distribute food.
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These efforts will depend on cooperation from NGOs as well as public agencies, food banks, charities, universities, and private businesses. Their work is possible thanks to funding from the anti-poverty charity Fondazione Milan.
“We’re proud to have contributed to such an important project for the city as we support the Milan City Council’s Food Policy,” said the charity’s President, Paolo Scaroni. “The Fondazione Milan is increasingly becoming a point of reference for the most vulnerable groups, responding to the growing needs of the communities in the area.
Since their launch, each of the first three food waste hubs has developed to successfully recover about 130 tonnes of food per year – or 350 kg per day – which equates to about 260,000 meals worth of food.
The hubs accept surplus food from supermarkets, companies’ canteens and other food aid organisations. NGOs distribute this to hundreds of disadvantaged families struggling to overcome food insecurity.
One hub, named the Gallaratese Hub, also offers free support, including legal advice, therapy, language lessons, and childcare.
Find out more about Milan's food waste hubs on the Earthshot Prize website.
