Tackling Food Waste with Discounted Surplus Food Boxes

Social impact company Too Good to Go is addressing food waste through a unique service that delivers discounted surplus food boxes to consumers. Operating out of Ceva Logistics’ warehouse in Kettering, Northamptonshire, the company rescues food products from manufacturers that would otherwise be discarded, providing a sustainable solution to food waste while benefiting consumers with affordable food options.

The initiative has seen a tremendous response, with more than a million food items processed at the warehouse in the first few weeks alone. Customers can purchase boxes filled with a mix of excess products, making it a cost-effective choice for consumers while reducing waste in the food industry.

"A Triple Win" for Consumers, Businesses, and the Planet

Jamie Crummie, 33, who co-founded Too Good to Go in 2015, views the project as a “triple win,” benefiting consumers, businesses, and the environment. He highlighted the vast scale of food waste, noting that about 40% of food produced globally ends up as waste. By diverting excess products to consumers, the company contributes to a more sustainable food supply chain.

“We are able to rescue that food and put it to good use rather than letting it go to waste,” Crummie explained. His vision has driven the company’s mission to make a measurable impact on food waste across the UK and beyond.

Massive Food Waste Reduction Efforts with Ceva Logistics

Stuart Hearn, business development manager at Ceva Logistics, expressed the company’s commitment to supporting this endeavor. "We receive up to four containers of surplus products per day and have processed over a million items in the first few weeks," he said. Ceva Logistics' operational scale is key to the project’s success, enabling the efficient handling of high volumes of surplus food.

Food Waste in the UK: A Costly Problem

According to the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP), food waste in the UK amounted to 10.7 million tonnes in 2021, costing households hundreds of pounds per year. Too Good to Go’s model provides a practical approach to reduce these figures by connecting consumers directly with surplus goods, making a real difference in households while promoting sustainability.

Through this surplus food box initiative, Too Good to Go exemplifies how innovative thinking can tackle significant global challenges. The project not only saves money for consumers but also plays a critical role in reducing food waste, making it a promising model for sustainable food distribution.