The Real Junk Food Project

Scenario

A quarter to a third of the food produced globally is wasted. Yet, there are an estimated 795 million people who do not get enough to eat. In the United Kingdom, 2 million people are malnourished, while it is estimated that as a whole it produces 10 million tons of food waste each year. The Real Junk Food Project wants to find a solution by combining two problems: using food that was previously considered “surplus” to feed people who would otherwise go hungry.

Description

The Real Junk Food Project is a national and international initiative that promotes cafes, projects, and pop-ups with the goal of intercepting food waste destined for landfills and using it to feed those in need, based on the “pay what you can” principle . This initiative aims to solve two problems: reducing food waste and providing food to people in need. The innovative concept of “pay as you feel” encourages people to think about what that plate of food means to them and to value it in any way they can. By choosing not to segregate people based on economic conditions, we are able to not only fund the project, but also do so in a way that does not pander to those in need and those who want to support them. Those in need are not degraded or shamed for accepting a free or cheap meal, and likewise those who can afford it are not pestered with ever-increasing donations. Everyone is equal in feeding himself; it is up to the individual to pay what he believes.