The overall aim of the REFRESH project is to contribute significantly towards the objective of reducing food waste across the EU by 30% by 2025 (which amounts to between 25 to 40 million tonnes of food not being wasted in 2025[1], worth tens of billions of Euros a year) and maximizing the value from unavoidable food waste and packaging materials. To achieve this ambitious goal, we will adopt a systemic approach and use cutting edge science to enable action by businesses, consumers and public authorities. A central ambition of the REFRESH project is to develop a ‘Framework for Action’ model that is based on strategic agreements across all stages of the supply chain (backed by Governments), delivered through collaborative working and supported by evidence-based tools to allow targeted, cost effective interventions. Success will support transformation towards a more sustainable and secure EU food system, benefitting Europe’s economy, environment and society.

CHORIZO aims to improve the understanding of how social norms (rules or expectations that are socially enforced) influence behaviour related to FLW generation. To significantly accelerate progress towards zero food waste, CHORIZO aims to use this knowledge to increase the effectiveness of decision-making and engagement of food chain actors, in changing social norms towards zero food waste. To achieve its aim, the project will provide evidence on the role of existing social norms in actors’ FLW behaviours through translating results from previous FLW actions into evidence and generate new evidence on social norms & FLW behaviours. Second, CHORIZO will embed these research results into innovation products that can foster change of FLW-related social norms. These products include more effective (sector-based) guidance, communication & science education packages and capacity building actions. CHORIZO employs real-life Case Studies (CSs) to serve its three interlinked purposes: (i) to provide information and data on the context and impact of previous FLW prevention/reduction actions undertaken by the Case Study members, thus enriching the evidence-based analysis on previous FLW actions; (ii) to generate new evidence on the interaction between social norms, behaviour and food waste, to feed into the project’s FW models and innovation products; (iii) to validate the communication & science education packages of the project. Moreover, on the technical side, CHORIZO will utilise advanced modelling techniques to produce solutions that integrate behavioural and economic theories and integrate gender and intersectional analysis to interpret social norm and behavioural data and to effectively engineer innovation processes and outputs.

Food waste has received global attention as a major sustainability challenge, with significant implications for the economy, society and the environment. At the same time, it represents a global paradox: whilst a large amount of the food produced each year is wasted, there are huge numbers of people suffering from hunger. SavingFood offers a novel approach to tackle food waste by turning this environmental issue into an innovative solution to fight hunger. The project builds on the collaborative power of ICT networks and creates an online community of citizens, food waste stakeholders and policy makers that through knowledge creation and sharing they are empowered to take direct action and become part of the suggested food waste solution. Through the use of advanced open source tools connected to a social networking environment SavingFood facilitates the redistribution of surplus food to those in need, ensures that no food is wasted through lack of communication, supports the participation of people in organised as well as ad hoc events around food saving and encourages wide debate. Leveraging on the collaborative power of social networks and by activating the collective intelligence of citizens SavingFood seeks to create a social movement for tackling food waste and influence lifestyles towards a more sustainable future.