Food waste is a major contributor to global warming, but a free mobile app called Too Good To Go is working to address the issue. The app connects consumers with restaurants, bakeries, cafes, and markets offering unsold prepared foods or baked goods in “Surprise Bags’’ at heavily discounted prices. These are items that would otherwise be thrown away, giving small businesses a chance to recover some revenue while reducing waste. The contents of the bags change daily, creating an element of surprise. Since its launch in Copenhagen in 2015, Too Good To Go has expanded across Europe and the United States, including more than 1,000 businesses in Massachusetts since its Boston debut in 2020. Today, the company says, it’s the largest marketplace for surplus food. Using the app is simple: download it, set your location, browse available options, reserve a bag, and pay — typically about one-third of the original price. You might score pastries from South End Buttery, pizza from Otto’s, a meal from the Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel, or baked treats from Bakey.
According to Sarah Soteroff, Too Good To Go’s public relations head, the app has to date saved 18 million meals nationwide through partnerships with over 22,000 businesses. This has translated into $179 million in consumer savings and $57 million in partner earnings. In Massachusetts alone, its 58,000 users have rescued 834,000 meals. Recently, Whole Foods Market has joined the effort, offering the surprise bags at 31 stores across the state. For $6.99, you can get baked goods like bread, muffins, cookies, or scones that typically ring in at $21. Or opt for soups, sandwiches, or other ready-to-eat meals for $9.99, usually priced at $30. As you use the app, it tracks your impact, showing how much money you’ve saved and the greenhouse gas emissions you’ve helped prevent. “We imagine a world without food waste and we are seeking to empower everyone to be part of the solution,’’ says Soteroff. toogoodtogo.com
ANN TRIEGER KURLAND
Ann Trieger Kurland can be reached at anntrieger@gmail.com.
