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City of Milan
2021 Winner
Build a
Waste-free World

The City of Milan Food Waste Hubs

Country:
Italy
Nominated by:

A third of food produced globally is wasted, meanwhile hundreds of millions suffer from food insecurity. The City of Milan’s Food Waste Hubs tackle both problems.

Their Story

The global food system generates between 25-30% of the world’s total greenhouse gas emissions. Each discarded food item uses precious resources and heaps pressure on agriculture. 

Launched in 2019, The City of Milan’s Food Waste Hubs aim to halve waste by 2030. Each hub recovers food mainly from supermarkets and companies’ canteens and gives it to NGOs who distribute it to the neediest citizens.     

Milan is the first major city to enforce a city-wide food waste policy encompassing public agencies, food banks, charities, NGOs, universities and private businesses. And it is working. Today the city has three Food Waste Hubs, each recovering about 130 tonnes of food per year or 350 kg per day, an estimated 260,000 meals equivalent.

Milan has created a blueprint that can be scaled throughout the world. If more follow Milan’s lead, cities may become one of our greatest assets in humanity’s progress toward a waste free world.     

Since winning The Earthshot Prize, the team has received extensive press coverage, and have expanded their operations in Milan with two new hubs, broadening their network out to open food markets and school canteens. They plan to spin-out a centre of excellence in Milan to gather and share best practice across the world. The Earthshot Prize Global Alliance Member Deloitte are engaged to explore the possibility of establishing a food waste social impact bond that would open new routes to fund their work – in Milan, and beyond.

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