Recycling Food to Promote Social Inclusion. An Empirical Evidence

The purpose of this article is to frame the current debate about food waste in developed countries and to understand what kind of inclusiveness can be promoted through social action on this topic. The research developed in two steps: first quantitative data were collected (846 questionnaires) and analyzed; then critical issues were identified and 50 interviews were conducted to better understand the experience of one project initiative connecting food gatherers and selected food wasted by merchants. Results show that donation of food otherwise wasted during local markets is a common practice, but its impact and value is underestimated by merchants. The initiative is interesting and its potential for inclusion and normalization of the gathering phenomenon is rather clear. The research shows how participants to this project, both volunteers and users realize an inclusive community adopting the same practice of food saving, despite having a different motivation. Such an initiative represents a practice of social innovation as it is not only targeted at poor people, nor it is trying to solve one specific problem: it rather tries to disseminate a different kind of consciousness around food and its waste.