The project, created by Just Eat together with Pony Zero and a number of partner restaurants, will start from Milan with the aim of expanding across the rest of the peninsula.
Millions of people around the world still suffer from hunger, and malnutrition is one of the leading causes of child mortality. What makes this problem even more absurd and abhorrent is the phenomenon of food waste: according to Unep, the United Nations Environment Programme, approximately one third of the food produced annually for human consumption — amounting to 1.3 billion tonnes — is lost or wasted.
It is precisely to reduce waste and redistribute food to those who need it most that Ristorante solidale was born — the first solidarity-based food delivery project. The initiative was created by Just Eat, a company specialising in home food delivery, together with Pony Zero, a Turin-based bicycle delivery service startup, and a number of partner restaurants.
The project, conceived to redistribute food surpluses by helping disadvantaged communities and developed under the patronage of the Municipality of Milan alongside Caritas Ambrosiana, will launch in January in the Lombard capital. The aim, however, is to "win over" the entire peninsula, thanks to the support of restaurants that wish to sign up to the initiative.
Participating restaurants offer food surpluses — unprocessed ingredients, fresh produce, bread and unused whole products — which will be collected, according to a schedule of pre-arranged appointments, by Just Eat and Pony Zero, who will then transport them to specific areas identified by Caritas.
"We are very proud to announce the launch of this project in collaboration with Pony Zero, to whom we entrust all the logistical aspects, and with a serious and committed partner such as Caritas Ambrosiana, because for us — working in the market for home food ordering services — food represents a precious resource whose value is immeasurable," said Daniele Contini, country manager of Just Eat in Italy.
The Ristorante solidale project fits within the framework of the law against food waste that came into force last 14 September. The new legislation is aimed at promoting, for purposes of social solidarity, the recovery and donation of food, pharmaceutical and other products in favour of non-profit organisations. To encourage solidarity, the law provides for bureaucratic simplification of the donation process and tax benefits for those who make donations. The law also allows local authorities to apply discounts on waste disposal taxes for establishments that, rather than throwing away unsold goods, choose to donate them.