Demonstration experiment using food donation platform contributes to food loss reduction with 63% donation success rate of eligible products in one month

Proof experiment using food donation platform contributes to food loss reduction with 63% donation success rate of eligible products in 1 month ​
Nesshu Co., Ltd. Press release: November 11, 2024 Demonstration experiment using food donation platform contributes to food loss reduction with 63% donation success rate of eligible products in one month Nessu Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, Representative: Yuki Kido), which aims to eliminate the opportunity gap for children, is a subsidiary of Life Corporation (Headquarters: Shinagawa, Tokyo), which delivers “delicious,” “exciting,” and “happy.” Ward, Representative Director, President and Executive Officer: Iwasaki Agricultural products (vegetables and fruits)/daily food donation model currently being implemented in collaboration with the Sustainable Food Chain Council (Location: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Representative Director: Tomio Kobayashi, hereinafter SFA) We will announce the interim results of the demonstration experiment.
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Image of donated products (products with shortened best-before/use-by dates) Purpose of this project This project is being implemented as a project selected by the Ministry of the Environment’s “FY2025 Model Project for Introduction of Measures to Reduce Food Loss Associated with Food Consumption Behavior”. Organizations such as children’s cafeterias and single-parent households need support for agricultural products (vegetables and fruits) and daily food items that are still edible but can no longer be sold at retail stores due to short expiration dates or use-by dates. The aim is to simultaneously solve two social issues: food loss and child poverty. The demonstration experiment is being conducted at Life Ogi Ohashi Ekimae store in Adachi Ward. Regarding the donation process, Life store staff will select items that can be donated from among the items that would normally be discarded during normal operations, and store them in the delivery refrigerator. Groups and individuals who are participating in the collection can select products from a dedicated matching site and make payments using the points they receive (free of charge). Then, on the same day, customers visit the store, unlock the delivery refrigerator, and take home the products they have selected. Image
URL: https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/113664/13/113664-13-5ff11315b1b21c303bbb9be5b705bc9f-960×832.jpg Intermediate results of demonstration experiment One month after the start of the demonstration experiment, a total of approximately 115 kg (571 items) of food was donated, including approximately 78 kg (402 items) of agricultural products (vegetables and fruits) and 37 kg (169 items) of daily food items. The average monthly donation rate for donated products is approximately 63%, which has improved since the start of the demonstration experiment.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/113664/13/113664-13-5e78146e3fbdfcee0b04f233c72a73fe-1238×862.png In particular, there are cases where individual households use the service three times a week or use it for 20 or more items at a time. We have also received specific feedback from users.
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https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/113664/13/113664-13-cfdc3b4aa1586e6aa7b63db9d37a8bac-667×406.jpg When this demonstration experiment becomes commercialized, it is expected that by increasing the number of participating households and organizations per store, it will be possible to donate 80% of the products eligible for donation. As a result, agricultural products (vegetables and fruits) and daily food, which account for
approximately 80% of the food waste generated at stores, can be used to support children without being thrown away. We believe that there is a potential to reduce food loss by 490,000 tons of food loss x 80% ratio of agricultural products and daily food products x donation realization rate of 80%). In the future, based on the know-how gained through the demonstration experiment, we will work with Life Corporation and SFA to expand the range of eligible items, expand the system nationwide, and aim to implement it at other supermarkets. We will also work to create a sustainable system through collaboration with local governments. Participating organization comments Children’s Village Hot Station We provide children with home-cooked meals that are difficult to make in busy families. Prices of food, especially vegetables, are on the rise, so any support for ingredients would be very helpful. We need your support in order to create meals that cost only 100 yen. I would like to expand the circle of support so that local supermarkets can participate in initiatives like this one. Comments from companies conducting demonstration experiments Life Corporation Co., Ltd. Through receiving thank you letters and speaking directly with those who have participated in the demonstration experiment, we have learned that there is a high need for fresh food, and we are realizing the necessity of this initiative. We hope to further expand the scope of our social contribution by working on and expanding this initiative not only at our company, but also with local companies. Company/organization overview Company name: Life
Corporation Co., Ltd. Representative: Takaharu Iwasaki, Representative Director, President and Executive Officer Established: October 1956 Head Office: Tokyo Head Office (Shinagawa Seaside TS Tower 13F, 4-12-3 Higashi-Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo) Business content: Supermarket chain URL: http://www.lifecorp.jp/ Organization name: Sustainable Food Chain Council Representative Director: Tomio Kobayashi Established: November 2019 Address: Tatsuro Watanabe Laboratory, Faculty of Commerce, Senshu University, 3-8 Kanda Jimbocho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Business details: A consortium in which experts, food industry companies, and organizations connected through a loose network examine solutions to sustainability issues in the food supply chain that are difficult for a single company to tackle, such as food loss reduction. URL: https://www.j-sfa.net/ Nessu Co., Ltd. Overview Nessu is a startup company whose vision is to “eliminate the opportunity gap for children.” Through our food bank/online supermarket business, we collaborate with local businesses and organizations, aiming to create a kinder society where no child suffers from disparities in food or experiences. Company name: Nessu Co., Ltd. Representative Director: Yuki Kido Established: June 10, 2022 Address: 4-44-4 Daisawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 155-0032 URL: https://nessu.co.jp/ Reference: Ministry of the Environment “FY2020 Model Project for Introduction of Measures to Reduce Food Loss Associated with Food Consumption Behavior” The Ministry of the Environment supports initiatives to prevent waste of unsold food in which consumers participate and are involved, such as take-home leftovers from eating out (mottECO) and food sharing at restaurants and retail stores. We will implement a model project to introduce measures to reduce food loss associated with consumer behavior. Regarding the selection results of the FY2020 model project for introducing measures to reduce food loss associated with food consumption behavior (Ministry of the Environment, May 31, 2024 press release) https://www.env.go.jp/press/press_03229.html