2023-10-16
About 3,000 tonnes of food waste is discarded in Hong Kong every day. While most of them are still edible, they are sent to landfills. However, in the community, there are over a million elderly or grassroots people who do not have enough food to eat. Excessive leftover food leads to wastage and increases the load in landfills. A series of problems caused by food waste have a wide impact on the economy, people’s livelihood, environmental pollution and social development. In view of this, Food Commons Foundation’s Food Sharing Action was officially launched in 2009. It is the first food sharing action in Hong Kong that combines environmental protection and community mutual assistance. With a focus on the community, it connects groups from different districts to establish a resource network that can tackle the problem of food waste.
Continue to collect food waste from markets/restaurants/merchants
By connecting different social welfare organizations, environmental groups, the government and industrial and commercial sectors in the society, the Foundation continues to work hard and work together with them to solve the problem of food waste and redefine the position of edible and unexpired leftover food. Through assortment and selection, collectors and volunteers process the collected surplus food and share it with people in need in the community. Meanwhile, food sharing action will search for other workable food upcycling solutions. For example, in 2019, Upcycled Food Party was Hong Kong's first new concept demonstration charity event with the theme of Upcycling Leftover Food. It showcased new products from upcycling leftover food and shared various ways to cherish food with participants through workshops. At the end of 2018, the Foundation initiated the largest scale event, Action to Save Mandarin. It turned a huge number of to-be-discarded Xinhui mandarin pulps into jam and dried fruits and solved the problem of food waste.
Food collection and sharing action in 16 districts in HK
Food Commons Foundation connects with many merchants and non-proft making organizations and carries out leftover food collection and sharing action in 16 districts in Hong Kong, namely Tsuen Wan, Kwai Fong, Tsing Yi, Tin Shui Wai, Yuen Long, Fanling, Sheung Shui, Shatin, Tai Wai, Ma On Shan, Fo Tan, Tai Po, Hung Hom, To Kwa Wan, Sheung Wan and Causeway Bay. It has also been encouraging people from all walks of life to support and participate, with the hope to expand the leftover food collection and sharing action to all 18 districts in Hong Kong and promote community experience in dealing with leftover food and food waste to the public. It promotes a food-wise culture and at the same time reduces food waste and shares resources with those in need.
To enhance environmental protection awareness of residents in the community, the Foundation organizes educational activities in different districts. For example, Food Commons @ NT and ECF Food Commons @ Shatin carry out monthly market food recycling to make good use of social resources and experience food conservation education activities, as so to enhance citizens’ environmental awareness.
The number of beneficiaries is close to 10 million
Through Food Commons, organizations educate the public about recycling concepts, reducing food waste and actively bringing positive impacts to the communities. Since its launch, Food Commons Foundation has already saved an accumulated amount of over 10,000 tonnes (approximately 10 million kgs) of surplus food that were supposed to be thrown away in landfills. This is equivalent to the weight of 707 double-decker buses and has brought warmth and food to nearly 10 million beneficiaries. The beneficiaries mainly include the elderly, low-income people or families, CSSA recipients or families, the unemployed, the disabled, children, ethnic minorities and disadvantaged groups.
Food Commons has a total of 156 registered volunteers across different districts, but some districts are still in a situation where they cannot carry out the action smoothly due to a lack of manpower. Therefore, the Foundation calls on people from all walks of life to join and register as volunteers for Food Commons, meeting like-minded friends, collecting and sharing leftover food as well as reducing food waste and helping others.