Solution Title
Increase in the REduction and REcovery of EXpired FOod
Solution Title (in English)
Sectors
Food waste reduction; Food waste valorisation
Markets
Landfills, Europe
Description
The general objective of the i-REXFO LIFE project is to demonstrate the feasibility, sustainability and replicability of an innovative business approach that combines food waste reduction and food waste energy valorisation. The aim is to prevent landfilling and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and create new opportunities for using ‘expired food’. Specific objectives are to:
1) Develop and test a tool for the design, application and transfer of the i-REXFO approach, usable by stakeholders and investors, to help define geographical area, feasibility, business models, guidelines for legislative framework and permit release, and the bioenergy potential of waste food;
2) Demonstrate the sustainability of a Reduction of Expired Food (REF) strategy through demonstrative actions in Umbria (Italy), in malls and in establishments that prepare and serve food and beverages (hotels, restaurants and cafes: HoReCa), with actions focused on promoting the use of near-to-expiration food, distribution to charities, and consumer engagement based on label information and pricing policy;
3) Develop and demonstrate the sustainability of an Expired Food to Energy (EFE) strategy through actions in Umbria for biogas energy generation from expired food from consumers, wholesale-retail, HoReCa, food processing and farming sectors; and
4) Demonstrate economically self-sustaining actions to reduce the amount of food landfilled, based on tax reductions and earnings derived from the Expired Food to Energy (EFE) chain.
