FOOD WASTE WHITHIN HOUSEHOLDS
design thinking
Design Thinking
2024
In this project, we are going to delve into the staggering issue of food waste.
In modern times, food waste is becoming increasingly problematic, and we can see how more people are starting to become aware of its consequences.
They are identifying different aspects of the issue where we can begin to make changes in order to improve the situation.
This project will focus on establishing an economic cycle within a residential area
in London to help reduce food waste
Royal College of Art
THE PROBLEM
Leftovers often fall victim to neglect, while a lack of foresight in planning our meals and improper storage or handling contribute further to the problem.
Why does this wasteful cycle persist?
70% of this waste originates from households
6.4 million tonnes (67%) of this discarded food was perfectly edible
Globally, 17% of all food ends up in the trash
In the UK alone, households squander an estimated £14 billion worth of food annually
MAIN RESEARCH
IFCO SmartCycle - which stands for "International Food Container Organization" – was the first company worldwide to provide reusable packaging solutions. The most important thing they managed to achieve is first the dynamic of the product - it can fit into different producing environments, and second of all - they managed to create
a product cycle.
Another project, the Linen Quarter BID, by Dark Matter Lab, illustrates the practical and commercial benefits of moving towards a sustainable building environment, emphasizing the "circular economy" model.
An important community project is Hubbub, which distributes communal fridges to public spaces, allowing people to share food, meet up, learn new skills, and prevent fresh food from going to waste.
WHO?
The desires for freshness
A diverse array of culinary options
Financial prudence
Comfort, alignment of daily routines with overall schedules
Commitment to environmental sustainability
However, it's essential to note that these aspirations should not compromise food quality or the desired standard of living, even if financial constraints exist.
In this project, my focus lies in establishing an economic cycle within a residential area in London primarily inhabited by young adults aged 24-30.
Among their foremost concerns, particularly concerning food consumption and purchasing habits, are:
THE SOLUTION
I decided to explore ways to develop a system that remains internal to the building, motivating usage while leveraging external support to limit initial interactions among residents.
Thus, the idea emerged to install communal fridges within a specific apartment building instead of public spaces.
Residents could deposit their leftovers in these fridges and freely access items as needed, fostering a controlled environment and enhancing comfort levels. Partnering with Hubbub, a weekly collection of leftover food from the fridges could be arranged, ensuring the system's sustainability and effectiveness.
THE PROBLEM 2.0
Initially, my concept revolved around creating a self-sustaining food system where residents of the building would grow, utilize, and recycle leftovers, fostering a continuous cycle. However, as I delved deeper into the planning phase, I realized that establishing such a system hinges on building robust connections among all residents—something challenging in a rental apartment setting.
The next crucial step involves addressing the primary challenges
of this project: the lack of motivation among young residents to alter their eating habits to reduce food waste, and their limited acquaintance with one another.
How can we cultivate trust among the building's residents and inspire their active involvement in the initiative?
Lack of real motivation to create change in their eating habits
Limited knowledge of one another
Young people today care about the environment and sustainability, but a busy schedule and limited awareness of how small habits impact the environment often leave them unmotivated to change their behavior
Living in a rental apartment often means not really knowing your neighbors. With people frequently moving in and out,
and the awareness that your stay is temporary, most residents don't take the time to get to know those living around them
How do you harness people to take
a practical part
in the project?
How do you enable trust between the residence of the building?
After using the fridge, you're invited to leave a note on it, commenting on the food or sharing a general message.
Other people can respond
to people's notes
A dialogue is starting
The dialogue creates a familiar feeling between one another and a sense or connection
Helps to enable trust and opens new doors to future communal projects.
Residents from the building can use the food leftovers in the communal triage
You purchase, cook, and consume the food in your home
Any kind of food leftovers you have (from prepared meals, unused vegetables, dry ingredients, etc.) can be placed in the communal fridge.
Residents from the building can use the food leftovers in the communal triage
When placing items in the fridge, you're encouraged to include a small note indicating who the food is from (if desired) and listing the main ingredients. Feel free to add any additional comments you'd like.
Food that is not used by the building residents will be collected by Hubbub and donated to charity
THE SOLUTION 2.0
…Trust building is a process that involves at least three different steps….First, trust-willingness is the disposition to work with the Other….This is followed by trust-responsiveness, when one takes concrete action…Finally, someone can be considered trustworthy when both the will and the response are met...
Building trust through dialogue in local communities: a key ingredient for social cohesion
The Network for Dialogue POLICY BRIEF #2 PUBLISHED IN JUNE
In considering how to facilitate dialogue within a rental building,
we confront the obstacle of residents' disparate schedules, which may
hinder their ability to meet. What if we implemented a letter system
to promote communication among residents without necessitating
face-to-face encounters?
In London, where mailbox checks are routine, leveraging this habit could prove effective. Utilizing this system, we could establish a "post-it notes on the fridge" approach, enhancing communication channels and encouraging community involvement.
SO, HOW WILL IT WORK?
How do we build trust?
Initiating dialogue emerges as a pivotal factor in fostering trust.
By instigating conversations, residents gradually become more at ease with one another. Moreover, dialogue nurtures a sense of unity, laying the groundwork for community-driven initiatives of greater magnitude.
NEXT STEPS
For example, what if we established a closed loop system that will support local farmers, reduces costs for their costumers and will reduce food waste on the way?
The next phase of the project would be to stronger the close building acconomy in order to make the system more efficient and encouraging for more people to take part while helping them to insert new habbits that will help them save money, enrich the local economy and reduce food waste.
It's crucial to acknowledge that these project ideas are in their infancy and will require further experimentation and development.
However, the main takeaway is that even without extensive resources,
we possess the opportunity and capacity to initiate impactful change in the world. By collaborating with those around us and implementing small yet meaningful changes, we can catalyze larger transformations.