Experts from the Russian Association of Electronic Communications (RAEC) and the TIAR-Center consulting company have calculated how many citizens and retail chains throw away products annually. According to their estimates, based on data from the Higher School of Economics and Rosstat, about 17 million tons of products are dumped annually. The cost of food thrown out is estimated at more than RUR 1.6 trillion ($ 24.81 billion).
Thrown away in the trash could feed 30 million people during the year - more than the Russians living below the poverty line, the study said. But instead, 94% of the unclaimed products go to landfills, where they pollute the soil, water and air, releasing toxins and greenhouse gas. Now at least 16% of all manufactured products are lost at the stage of sale and consumption.
According to experts, food sharing, including online services, where users can transfer products with expiring expiration dates to those in need, can partially solve the problem of misallocation of products, according to experts.
The Russian food sharing market is still in its infancy, RAEC and TIAR Center say. According to their estimates, in 2018 only 7,000 tons of food was saved in Russia thanks to food sharing. But by 2024, the mass of food saved from utilization can grow up to 1 million tons worth about RUR 85 billion ($ 1.32 billion), believes the general director of TIAR Center Anton Gubnitsyn.
Source: sweetinfo.ru.
