Oddbox is dedicated to reducing fruit and veg wastage by partnering with growers to rescue produce that would otherwise go to waste. This initiative involves boxing up the fruit and veg and delivering it to Oddbox subscribers. Currently, Oddbox covers approximately 70% of the UK.
Emilie Vanpoperinghe, the CEO and co-founder of Oddbox, highlights the different aspects of food waste. While many people associate food waste with rotting produce in landfills, the reality is that waste starts much earlier in the food chain, from the moment crops are planted and harvested.
Oddbox operates on a “grower-led” model, which means they only take what has already been grown, ensuring they never create new demand. A significant amount of fruit and vegetables are discarded by growers, even though they are perfectly edible. This wastage occurs due to cosmetic specifications that don’t meet retailers’ standards or an overabundance of crops due to unpredictable weather or demand forecasting challenges. In fact, 1.2 billion tonnes of fruit and veg are thrown away at this stage in production.
Oddbox plays a crucial role in helping growers utilize their wasted produce effectively. The company partnered with sustainability experts at 3Keel to delve deeper into the root causes of farm-level food waste. By understanding the impact of their weekly rescue missions, Oddbox aims to make a meaningful difference and explore further opportunities to combat food waste.
Aside from addressing food waste, Oddbox also collaborates with various charities, such as Fareshare, KIND, and City Harvest. At the end of each week, any surplus fruit and veg is donated to these charities, ensuring that delicious and nutritious food reaches those in need. Since 2020, Oddbox has donated over 493 tonnes of fruit and veg, equivalent to 1,173,119 meals.
Reducing food waste is not only vital for combating hunger but also for combating climate change. Food waste has a significantly greater environmental impact than plastic, with an estimated 10% of greenhouse gas emissions originating from food waste alone. Therefore, it is crucial to address this issue. As Oddbox continues to grow, they strive to rescue more fruit and veg while also making a difference in other ways.
In summary, Oddbox’s grower-led model effectively tackles food waste by rescuing perfectly edible produce that would otherwise be discarded by growers. By partnering with sustainability experts, they seek to understand the root causes of food waste and further their impact in reducing wastage. Additionally, their donations to charities like Fareshare bring nutritious food to those in need. As food waste heavily contributes to climate change, addressing this issue becomes increasingly urgent. Oddbox is dedicated to making a positive impact every step of the way.
