Innovation Projects

How can we reduce food waste in households?

In Estonia, 167 tonnes of food are discarded each year, 41% of it by households. 

Thanks to Estonia’s high food production standards, many food products remain safe to consume even after their “use by” date. As a potentially high-impact solution, the team therefore initiated a transition from “use by” to “best before” labelling for products made by Estonian dairy producers.

As a second solution, a “smart fridge” approach was tested in families with children. Food that needed to be eaten first was placed in a specially marked area of the refrigerator to prevent it from being thrown away.

The project involved the Ministry of Rural Affairs, the Ministry of the Environment, the Ministry of Social Affairs, Saaremaa Rural Municipality and the Estonian Union of Co-operative Housing Associations.

The project mentor was Maarja Mõtus.