Frugal Hauls with Too Good To Go: Avoiding Food Waste

As someone who cares about the environment and sustainability, and likes to save a buck or two, I was excited to find the Too Good To Go app.  I learned about it while following Carleigh Bodrug at Plant You on Instagram who has an interesting series on “scrappy cooking”.  The app addresses two important issues simultaneously: reducing food waste and offering food discounts at grocery stores, restaurants, convenience stores and cafes. As a plant-based eater, it can be difficult to find a lot of compatible locations, but there are a few out there.

Too Good To Go App available on Android and Apple

A Fresh Approach to Food Waste

I was surprised to hear that Too Good To Go has been around since 2016. It started in Copenhagen and has expanded to 18 countries including Canada, the US, and throughout Europe. They are planning to launch the app in Australia next. The impact of the app has been significant, reducing the equivalent of 891,000 tonnes of CO2 in the environment.

Source: www.toogoodtogo.com

Food waste was identified by Project Drawdown (2014-2017) as the number one action we can take to help tackle climate change. In response to this goal, the app's main purpose is to address the food waste problem by connecting shoppers with establishments that have surplus food. Instead of throwing away perfectly good food, these businesses offer it to consumers at a discounted price. It’s a win-win situation—less waste and a food bargain!

NYT bestseller Project Drawdown edited by Paul Hawken

The app lets you browse nearby businesses that are participating in the program, each offering “surprise bags” of leftover food. You can find everything from bakery items to full meals from your local restaurants. There is an element of surprise because you never quite know what you’re going to get.

Most of the time, you need to bring your own containers to collect your goodies.  Once I had to bring a thermal mug for hot cocoa. Other times I bring reusable containers to cart donuts, or reusable bags to carry home surprise items.  If you show up empty-handed, you usually need to pay extra for a container to get your items home so make sure to bring something and avoid packaging waste, too.

Amazing Deals at Local Businesses

Let’s be honest—who doesn’t love a good bargain? With Too Good To Go, I’ve been able to score great deals on high-quality food. I’ve picked up donuts and better-than-fair trade chocolate for a fraction of the original price, which is a bonus reward for helping to reduce waste. The app is user-friendly, making it easy to find deals in my area when I’m available to go pick them up.

Another benefit of using Too Good To Go is the opportunity to support local businesses. Many of the participating restaurants and cafes are independently owned, so purchasing surplus food at the end of the business day helps them reduce waste and increase revenue.

Building a Sustainable Future

Using the Too Good To Go app is an easy way to reduce food waste and promote sustainability. My small action of buying a surprise bag of food, is making a surprisingly bigger difference than I expected.  So far, I’ve reduced 36 kg of CO2 and saved $206!

My Too Good To Go impact so far

The app also shows the impact of reducing CO2 in terms that are more easily understood, like the fact that I avoided the equivalent of 211 minutes of hot showers.

What my CO2 reduction means

 

If you’re looking to enjoy delicious food while also making a positive impact on the environment, I highly recommend giving Too Good To Go a try. Let me know if you find a new gem in your neighbourhood.

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