EUROPEAN EXPERIENCE OF SURPLUS FOOD DONATION IN THE CONTEXT OF FOOD WASTE PREVENTION AND CIRCULAR ECONOMY DEVELOPMENT
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.60022/3(6)-35SKeywords:
food waste, food donation, circular economy, waste prevention, food redistribution, food systemsAbstract
Food waste has become one of the major global challenges associated with the inefficiency of food systems, environmental degradation, and inefficient use of natural resources. In this context, donation of surplus or unrealized food products is increasingly recognized as an effective instrument for preventing food waste generation and supporting the transition towards a circular economy. The aim of this research is to analyse the experience of the European Union in developing food donation systems and to identify opportunities for adapting relevant approaches in Ukraine.
The study is based on a review and analysis of European regulatory frameworks, including the Waste Framework Directive, EU Guidelines on Food Donation, and strategic documents related to food waste prevention. The research also examines practical models of redistribution of surplus food implemented in selected EU Member States with a focus on institutional mechanisms, economic incentives, and the role of food banks.
The results demonstrate that effective food donation systems require an integrated approach combining legislative support, food safety regulation, developed redistribution infrastructure, stakeholder cooperation, and economic incentives for food businesses. Food donation contributes not only to reducing the amount of food waste but also to mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, conserving natural resources, and improving social sustainability by increasing access to food for vulnerable groups.
The analysis revealed that the European experience provides valuable policy and organizational solutions for Ukraine. Adaptation of EU practices, including the development of legal mechanisms for food donation, strengthening food redistribution networks, and introducing incentives for businesses, can become an important component of Ukraine’s transition towards sustainable food systems and circular economy principles.
References
1. United Nations. Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development : A/RES/70/1 [Electronic resource]. New York : United Nations, 2015. URL: https://docs.un.org/en/A/RES/70/1 (accessed: 12.03.2026).
2.FoodWasteIndexReport2024:ThinkEatSave–TrackingProgresstoHalveGlobalFoodWaste[Electronic resource]. Nairobi: United Nations Environment Programme, 2024. DOI: 10.59117/20.500.11822/45230. URL: https://doi.org/10.59117/20.500.11822/45230 (Accessed: 15 March 2026).
3. European Environment Agency. Preventing Waste in Europe: Progress and Challenges, with a Focus on Food Waste. EEA Report No. 02/2025. Luxembourg : Publications Office of the European Union, 2025. DOI: 10.2800/9052533. URL: https://doi.org/10.2800/9052533 (Accessed: 18 March 2026).
4. Van der Werf S. M., Seabrook J. A., Gilliland J. A. Surplus food donation: Effectiveness, carbon footprint, and rebound effect. Resources, Conservation and Recycling. 2022. Vol. 181. Article 106271. DOI: 10.1016/j.resconrec.2022.106271.
5. European Commission. EU guidelines on food donation. Official Journal of the European Union. 2017. C 361. P. 1–29. URL: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:52017XC1025(01) (Accessed: 21 March 2026).
6. European Commission. Redistribution of surplus food: Examples of practices in the Member States. Brussels: European Commission, 2019. URL: https://food.ec.europa.eu/safety/food-waste/eu-actions-against- food-waste/food-donation_en (Accessed: 24 March 2026).
7. Do Q., Ramudhin A., Colicchia C., Creazza A., Li D. A systematic review of research on food loss and waste prevention and management for the circular economy. International Journal of Production Economics. 2021. Vol. 239. Article 108209. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpe.2021.108209.
8. Eriksson M., Giovannini S., Ghosh R. K. Is there a need for greater integration and shift in policy to tackle food waste? Insights from a review of European Union legislations. SN Applied Sciences. 2020. Vol. 2. Article 1347. DOI: 10.1007/s42452-020-3147-8.
9. Van der Werf S. M., Seabrook J. A., Gilliland J. A. Surplus food donation: Effectiveness, carbon footprint, and rebound effect. Resources, Conservation and Recycling. 2022. Vol. 181. Article 106271. DOI: 10.1016/j.resconrec.2022.106271.
10. Reynolds C., Goucher L., Quested T. et al. Review: Consumption-stage food waste reduction interventions – What works and how to design better interventions. Food Policy. 2019. Vol. 83. P. 7–27. DOI: 10.1016/j.foodpol.2019.01.009.
11. Caldeira C., De Laurentiis V., Corrado S., van Holsteijn F., Sala S. Quantification of food waste per product group along the food supply chain in the European Union: A mass flow analysis. Resources, Conservation and Recycling. 2019. Vol. 149. P. 479–488. DOI: 10.1016/j.resconrec.2019.06.011.
12. Geißdörfer M., Savaget P., Bocken N. M. P., Hultink E.-J. The Circular Economy: A new sustainability paradigm? Journal of Cleaner Production. 2017. Vol. 143. P. 757–768. DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.12.048.
13. Directive 2008/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 November 2008 on waste and repealing certain Directives : Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council. Official Journal of the European Union. 2008. L 312. P. 3–30. URL: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ TXT/?uri=CELEX:32008L0098 (Accessed: 14 March 2026).
14. De Laurentiis V., Casonato C., Mancini L., García Herrero L. et al. Building Evidence on Food Waste Prevention Interventions. Luxembourg : Publications Office of the European Union, 2024. DOI: 10.2760/684291. URL: https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2760/684291 (Accessed: 20 March 2026).
15. European Commission. Food donation. Food Safety. URL: https://food.ec.europa.eu/food-safety/ food-waste/eu-actions-against-food-waste/food-donation_en (Accessed: 11 March 2026).
16. European Commission. Commission Notice – EU guidelines on food donation (2017/C 361/01). Official Journal of the European Union. 2017. C 361. P. 1–29. URL: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/ EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:52017XC1025(01) (Accessed: 16 March 2026).
17. Directive (EU) 2018/851 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2018 amending Directive 2008/98/EC on waste : Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council. Official Journal of the European Union. 2018. L 150. P. 109–140. URL: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ TXT/?uri=CELEX:32018L0851 (Accessed: 18 March 2026).
18. A New Circular Economy Action Plan: For a Cleaner and More Competitive Europe (COM(2020) 98 final) / European Commission. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 2020. URL: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:52020DC0098 (Accessed: 22 March 2026).
19. A Farm to Fork Strategy for a Fair, Healthy and Environmentally-Friendly Food System (COM(2020) 381 final) / European Commission. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 2020. URL: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:52020DC0381 (Accessed: 24 March 2026).
20. Directive (EU) 2025/1892 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 10 September 2025 amending Directive 2008/98/EC on waste : Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council. Official Journal of the European Union. 2025. OJ L, 26.9.2025. URL: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2025/1892/oj (Accessed: 27 March 2026).
21. European Food Banks Federation. Food Banks and Food Donation in Europe. URL: https://www. eurofoodbank.org/ (Accessed: 10 March 2026).
22. Assemblée nationale. Loi n° 2016-138 du 11 février 2016 relative à la lutte contre le gaspillage alimentaire. 2016. URL: https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/loda/id/LEGITEXT000032040179/ (Accessed: 12 March 2026).
23. Repubblica Italiana. Legge 19 agosto 2016, n. 166: Disposizioni concernenti la donazione e la distribuzione di prodotti alimentari e farmaceutici a fini di solidarietà sociale e per la limitazione degli sprechi. Gazzetta Ufficiale della Repubblica Italiana. 2016. URL: https://www.normattiva.it/uri-res/ N2Ls?urn:nir:stato:legge:2016;166 (Accessed: 15 March 2026).
24. Jefatura del Estado. Ley 1/2025, de 1 de abril, de prevención de las pérdidas y el desperdicio alimentario. Boletín Oficial del Estado. 2025. No. 80. P. 44747–44790. URL: https://www.boe.es/eli/ es/l/2025/04/01/1 (Accessed: 18 March 2026).
25. Federación Española de Bancos de Alimentos (FESBAL). Buscador de Bancos de Alimentos. URL: https://fesbal.org/buscador-de-bancos/ (Accessed: 20 March 2026).
26. Fundació Banc dels Aliments de Barcelona. Centros educativos / Centres educatius. Programa de sensibilización para centros educativos. URL: https://www.bancdelsaliments.org/es/programas-centros- educativos/ (Accessed: 22 March 2026).
27. GR-2025-11-13-scaled-aspect-ratio-1742-1592-2048x1872.jpg [Electronic resource] / Fundació Banc dels Aliments. Available at: https://www.bancdelsaliments.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/GR-2025- 11-13-scaled-aspect-ratio-1742-1592-2048x1872.jpg (accessed: 21.04.2026).
28. Tafel Deutschland e. V. Die Tafeln: Lebensmittel retten. Menschen helfen. URL: https://www.tafel. de/ (Accessed: 24 March 2026).
29. Press Photos [Electronic resource] / Tafel Deutschland e.V. Available at: https://www.tafel.de/presse/ pressebilder (accessed: 30.04.2026).
30. Tafel-Akademie gGmbH. Zertifikatskurs „Verantwortliche in Tafeln“. URL: https://www.tafel- akademie.de/bildungsangebot/zertifikatskurs/verantwortliche-in-tafeln/ (Accessed: 26 March 2026).
31. Michalis K. Digital Technologies and Food Waste: A Description of the FoodCloud Redistribution Platform. 2026. DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.6861118. URL: https://ssrn.com/abstract=6861118 (Accessed: 28 March 2026).
32. Pro skhvalennia Natsionalnoi stratehii upravlinnia vidkhodamy v Ukraini do 2030 roku: Rozporiadzhennia vid 08.11.2017 No 820-r [On approval of the National Waste Management Strategy in Ukraine until 2030: Order of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine dated 08.11.2017 No. 820-r]. Kabinet Ministriv Ukrainy. 2017. URL: https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/go/820-2017-r (Accessed: 28 April 2026).
33. Pro zatverdzhennia Natsionalnoho planu upravlinnia vidkhodamy do 2030 roku: Rozporiadzhennia vid 20.02.2019 No 117-r [On approval of the National Waste Management Plan until 2030: Order of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine dated 20.02.2019 No. 117-r]. Kabinet Ministriv Ukrainy. 2019. URL: https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/go/117-2019-r (Accessed: 28 April 2026).
34. Pro upravlinnia vidkhodamy: Zakon Ukrainy vid 20.06.2022 No 2320-IX. Verkhovna Rada Ukrainy. 2022. URL: https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/go/2320-20 (Accessed: 28 April 2026).
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Олена Олександрівна Кузнєцова, Ірина Михайлівна Корнієнко (Автор)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Facebook page
Telegram channel