At Parcelly we are all for solutions that help the environment, especially those ensuring efficient use of resources and creating a win-win situation for both businesses and consumers.
This week we caught up with Too Good To Go, the app-based solution which combats food-waste by linking users to excess meals which would otherwise be thrown away.
1) Let’s start with a little bit about the Too Good To Go concept, how was the idea born?
Too Good To Go is an app and web-based platform that is tackling food waste by placing the lost value back onto food, by allowing cafes, bakeries and restaurants to sell their surplus food at the end of lunch or dinner service for our users to come and collect. Too Good To Go was born out of a desire to have a massive social impact by reducing food waste - what we consider to be one of the world’s dumbest problems. It's not just about eating sustainably and affordably, we are motivated by changing attitudes and getting as many people involved in making a positive impact.
2) Who are your consumers? Is there a certain group or demographic that use your app the most?
ANYONE and EVERYONE! Well almost anyone, all you need is a tablet or smartphone with access to either a bank card or a PayPal account. Then you can get rescuing meals from the moment you’ve downloaded the app. We tend to find young people, especially students, are the biggest users of the app, but as I say we have users from all sorts of demographics.
3) Can you tell us a fun fact or statistic about food waste?
I am not sure if they are fun but rather more depressing, but here goes: If food waste was a country it would be the third largest Green House Gas emitter after the US and China!
4) What are the benefits for restaurants and cafes using Too Good To Go, and how do you get them on-board?
For all the stores that join our platform they can see immediate benefits. First off, they are getting a return on food they were previously throwing away, whilst also saving on their waste disposal costs. In addition, they are able to introduce their store to a whole new customer base through the reach our app offers. We currently have over 1.5 million users across Europe so it's a great way for our stores to introduce their food to new customers and convert them into returning visitors. Not to mention using TGTG allows a store to show to their customers and the public at large that they are actively doing something to reduce food waste.
5) How do you see the sharing economy developing in the future?
The sharing economy is undoubtedly growing throughout the world, epitomised none less by the emergence of Airbnb and Uber. Interestingly we can see the sharing economy having a massive impact in emerging economies - Rio has the third most listings on Airbnb after Paris and New York. As such, the sharing economy can be geared towards having a great social impact. The sharing economy has minimal start-up costs and in certain situations can work without the involvement of money, for example time banks. Moreover, this low level of entry encourages great, innovative and inspiring social enterprises to enter the market and start having an impact where previously they were hindered.
A big THANK YOU to Too Good To Go from the team at Parcelly and we can't wait to see what the future of sharing further has in store for us!
