REFRESH Food Waste

Refresh is a brand that aims to combat food waste through research and collaboration. As a four-year EU research project that concluded in 2019, Refresh worked towards the goal of contributing to Sustainable Development Goal 12. 3.

This project involved 26 partners from 12 European countries and China, focusing on the reduction of avoidable waste and the improved valorisation of food resources. Refresh took an innovative and systemic approach to curb food waste by developing a holistic Framework for Action, which went beyond existing initiatives. Their work included better understanding the drivers of food waste through research, supporting better decision-making by industry and consumers, and providing guidance to legislators and policy makers.

To achieve their goals, Refresh developed strategic agreements with governments, businesses, and local stakeholders in pilot countries, such as Spain, Germany, Hungary, and the Netherlands. They also formulated EU policy recommendations, designed and developed technological innovations to improve the valorisation of food waste, and created ICT-based platforms and tools to support new and existing solutions. Overall, Refresh was dedicated to creating sustainable solutions to reduce food waste and promoting effective governance to tackle this global issue