Equoevento, the volunteers who recover food wasted at weddings and events.

EQUOEVENTO

Weddings, congresses, conferences, business dinners, corporate events. You've surely attended one of these events, characterized by large numbers of guests and exceptional catering. Have you ever wondered where all the succulent, uneaten dishes end up? In 2013 a group of five young friends, at a wedding, asked themselves this question and, after learning that all the food surpluses of the big events are thrown away, young professionals have got to work. That's how it was born Equoevento Onlus, a charitable organization that recovers food waste from the various types of events mentioned above and redistributes it to those most in need in city soup kitchens or with the help of charities such as Caritas or Sant'Egidio.

ALSO READ: How to Donate Leftover Food at Weddings and Parties

WASTED FOOD

Where does the need for an organization like Equoevento come from? In Italy, every year, food is wasted, most of it in the form of cooked meals, for a value of over 10 billion euros.. This figure represents, however, only domestic wasteIt should also be considered that catering agencies estimate a safety margin, a sort of buffer that ensures they do not find themselves in the embarrassing situation of not having enough food for everyone present, equal to 30%. Most of this margin would be thrown away if Equoevento's refrigerated van and insulated containers were not ready to collect it directly on site, at a pre-established time.Equoevento's efficiency has allowed the organization to grow immensely since its inception: in just a few years it has saved hundreds of thousands of meals in the cities of Rome, Milan and Turin.

LEFTOVER FOOD COLLECTION

What are the principles of Equoevento? This organization champions the fight against waste has a very clear mission: 'less waste, less hunger, less garbage equals more happiness'. In a society afflicted by both lack, hunger, and abundance, the waste and waste, Equoevento has found the perfect mechanism to transform that "excess" into a resource. This organization is the modern Robin Hood, and operates within the law.

FOOD WASTE

The passion and dedication to the social cause has allowed this organization to grow immensely: in just a few years Equoevento has established regular partnerships with associations such as Federcongressi and some sports institutionsIt's also important to remember that Italian legislation is also responsible for the fact that associations like this one can thrive in our country: Law 19 August 2016, n°166 – provisions concerning the donation and distribution of food and pharmaceutical products for social solidarity purposes and to limit waste – not only allows the donation of food and pharmaceutical waste to charitable purposes, but also provides tax incentives for organizations, like Equoevento, that are committed to fighting waste.

The photo is taken from the Facebook page of Fair event

HOW TO FIGHT FOOD WASTE

• At Rio Crosio Primary School in Asti, food waste is being fought with half portions.
• Ivana Di Martino is running a thousand kilometers against food waste. Go, Ivana!
• Siticibo Citizen Food Network: the project for recovering surplus food