Too Good To Go

Every year, about one-third of the food produced globally goes to waste. This amounts to 1.3 billion tons of edible food being discarded, impacting the environment and contributing to climate change. Amid the rise of sustainability initiatives, Too Good To Go is tackling these issues by not only reducing waste but also making meals more accessible.

Too Good To Go is a free mobile app that connects users with local restaurants, bakeries and supermarkets that have surplus food. By offering this food at reduced prices, the app allows businesses to sell what might otherwise end up in the trash, while consumers can access affordable and varied meal options. The app’s model combats food waste by turning would-be leftovers into bargains.

Users open the app to see which nearby stores or restaurants have unsold food available for the day. These items are often available at discounts of up to 70%. Each offering is a “Magic Bag” containing an assortment of food items, meaning users won’t know the exact contents until pickup. This adds an element of surprise but ensures that users always receive more value than what they paid for. 

In my own experience, the best place to score a bargain near us is Le Pain Quotidien, a bakery-restaurant that specializes in freshly baked bread. Using the app, I was able to get a croissant, pain au chocolat, almond croissant, and a hazelnut flute all for the price of $4.99. A steal compared to what would’ve been $21 at regular price. 

Due to the quiet nature of Oak Park, options are limited but include Panera Bread, Coffee Bean, Philz Coffee, and Le Pain Quotidien. However, if you were to go more in the city, the options would be more diverse. 

At its core, Too Good To Go is rooted in sustainability. The food industry is responsible for roughly 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions, largely due to food production and waste. Food waste not only squanders resources – it also wastes the energy, water, and effort required to grow, harvest and transport that food. By reducing the volume of wasted food, Too Good To Go helps lower the environmental impact of food production, making every meal bought through the app a small step towards sustainability.

Starting in Denmark, Too Good To Go has since expanded to more than 15 countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, France and Canada. Too Good To Go tailors its approach to the local food habits and waste management systems of each market, proving its ingenuity.  

Since its launch, Too Good To Go has saved more than 350 million meals from the landfill. In fact, saving one meal from going to the landfill avoids six lbs of carbon dioxide emissions, 2.8 meters square of land use per year and 214 gallons of water. 

In a world where sustainability is often approached with hesitancy, Too Good To Go can show that food waste reduction can be both simple and impactful. By making it easy for consumers and businesses to participate, the app demonstrates how small, individual choices can contribute to change.