Personal Experience
On 27th April, 2023 I had a pleasure to attend an event about upcycling promoted by FoodHack, I truly believe that participating of events and being part of discussions that are out of your knowledge context adds a lot, for a tech guy that is not dealing with this type of discussions, it is aa huge eye opening experience to exercise, in general it was the just leaving my comfort zone and diving into a different world that is so implicit, however so existential, I must confess that came that hard thought “how inefficient we are” as a society towards this theme.
Coming from Brazil, a country that wastes 26.3 million tons of food generated each year. This amounts to roughly 40% of the country’s total food production, hence I feel more than obliged to know how the upcycling could affect that global chain of consume and support countries that are waiting food in in big proportions.
Upcycling
Upcycling by definition is the process of taking discarded or unused materials and transforming them into new products of higher value or quality, a beneficial process that effectively helps mostly in a social layer of the society. In the opposite view of recycling, which breaks down materials into their component parts to make new products, upcycling focus on finding new and creative ways to use existing materials without breaking them down in a valuable outcome.
The goal of upcycling is to minimize waste and reduce the consumption of new resources. By repurposing materials that might otherwise be thrown away, upcycling can reduce the environmental impact of manufacturing and consumption, while also creating unique and innovative products.
Do you know that The German government has implemented various policies and initiatives to promote food waste reduction and recycling. For example, the country has set a national goal to reduce food waste by 50% by 2030, and has implemented a “Waste Avoidance and Recycling Act” that requires businesses to separate their organic waste and ensure that it is properly recycled.
One of the main methods of food recycling in Germany is composting. Many households and businesses have compost bins, which are used to collect food waste, such as vegetable peels, fruit scraps, and leftover food. The food waste is then turned into compost, which can be used as a natural fertiliser for plants.
Insights about the recycling in Europe
Upcycling is a growing trend in Europe, here are some insights not only related to food:
Germany has a strong focus on sustainable living, and upcycling is a key part of this. The country has a number of upcycling workshops and initiatives, such as the “Berlin Upcycling Network” which provides a platform for upcycling designers and businesses.
United Kingdom has a thriving upcycling community, with many designers and artists creating new products from waste materials. The country also has a number of upcycling workshops and classes, where individuals can learn new skills and create their own upcycled products.
Netherlands has a strong tradition of upcycling, with many designers and architects incorporating recycled materials into their projects. The country also has a number of upcycling initiatives, such as the “Upcycle City” program, which promotes the use of recycled materials in urban design.
Spain has a growing upcycling scene, with many designers and artists creating new products from waste materials. The country also has a number of upcycling initiatives, such as the “Waste to Art” program, which promotes the use of recycled materials in art and design.
Guest Speakers on FoodHack event:
Felipe Lino CTO and co-founder of Nosh.Bio
Felipe Lino is a scientist specialised in industrial microbiology, fermentation technology, co-founder and CTO at Nosh.bio GmbH.
Tim Gräsing co-founder of ReGood
Tim has been a F&B business consultant for more than 10 years, running a boutique consultancy and a restaurant in Berlin.
Marco Ries co-founder of ProteinDistillery
ProteinDistillery is at the forefront of producing clean protein ingredients sourced from locally-grown plant-based raw materials, such as brewer’s yeast. Using cutting-edge technology.
