Fighting food waste: EU officials and journalists also contribute to the reduction of food waste, which in Europe has reached a total of 59,2 million tons in 2022, growing compared to the 58,4 million of the previous year (Eurostat data) and which sees Italy in third place with 8,2 million tons of food thrown in the bin (first and second Germany and France). And so in the seats of the European institutions even officials and information workers are doing their bit to help reduce this squandering of food products. How? Simple: with the doggy bag, the leftovers tray.
EU Officials and Journalists: The Doggy Bag is Coming
Yes, because whether it is the European Parliament, the Commission or the EU Council, on the occasion of events that involve business lunches, buffets or refreshments, at the end, the uneaten food is appropriately packaged and offered to those present to take away.
In short, since what remains of the food placed on the plates and trays should be thrown away (because for health and hygiene reasons, even if untouched by anyone, food cannot be donated even to the needy), to avoid this, the catering managers and the European officials themselves invite those present to take away what they want, which would otherwise be destined for the garbage bin.
In the Council this practice is also extended to press room bar: once a summit, a meeting, a summit has concluded and the cash register is closed, the bar staff usually show up in the press room to inform the journalists that, if they want, the bar has whatever is left at the end of the meeting at their disposal.
Small initiatives, but which, if you look closely, also have their weight, if it is true that in 2023 this practice allowed the assembly of doggy bags for 1,2 tons of food products left over from the various buffet courses and meetings at the bar.
But to give more weight to the fight against waste, the European Commission has already decided to integrate the European Waste Directive with binding targets for reducing food waste by 2030:
- 10% in manufacturing and processing;
- 2) 30% per capita in retail trade, restaurants, food services and households.
Something is moving in Italy too
Something is moving in Italy too. Just in these days in the Senate the Industry and Agriculture Committee has adopted as a basic text for discussion a bill that provides for the possibility of take away uneaten food from the restaurant, and the establishment of a logo for the promotion of takeaway practice, clearly and prominently displayed inside the premises for the exercise of catering and the provision of food and beverages, in the menus, which can also be consulted remotely. Moreover, according to data collected by the Italian Federation of Public Establishments (FIPE), approximately 74 percent of consumers believe that the practice of taking away leftover food is correct.
