Rescuing Food

Imagine this: You had a late soccer game, and you’re hungry. Your mom agrees to stop by a pizza shop on the way home. It’s closing soon, but all of your favorite slices are still available. Phew! This is great news for you. But according to Chris MacAulay, it’s bad news for the environment.

MacAulay is vice president of operations in North America for Too Good To Go. The company is helping limit surplus, or excess, food.

When we go to a pizza shop at closing time expecting a full selection, or when we pick only the best apples at a grocery store, “we’re creating our own problem,” MacAulay told TIME for Kids. That problem is food waste. It’s a big one. More than 80 billion pounds of food is wasted each year, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

Waste Reduction

Too Good To Go wants surplus food to land somewhere other than in the trash. The idea started in Denmark about a decade ago. Now Too Good To Go is the world’s largest marketplace for surplus food.

The company connects people and businesses through an app. Users can search a map to find participating restaurants and grocery stores in their area. For a low price, businesses offer surprise bags or boxes of surplus food. These can contain anything from pizza slices to produce or baked goods. Users claim and pay for a bag or box, then pick it up before the business closes for the day.

The app has more than 100 million users worldwide. “The more success we have at helping customers pick up a surprise bag, the more we’ve achieved our vision of ending food waste,” MacAulay says.

How can kids help reduce food waste? “Get interested in food and where food comes from,” MacAulay suggests. “Participate in understanding how food ends up on the plate.” This can mean going on family grocery outings or being more thoughtful about portions. “Once you start to see the amount of waste, it’s really hard to unsee,” MacAulay says.