Multi-level governance of food waste 261
to evaluate the introduction of a potential food waste law (similar laws had
recently been introduced in France (Mourad, 2015) and Italy), meant to
strengthen the bottom- up voluntary process with binding state regulation.
The final evaluation issued in September 2017 by the Ministry of Agriculture
and Food concluded that the Industry Agreement was a sufficient first step in
emerging Norwegian food waste governance, putting the binding public
regulation on hold. Because of the strong food waste reduction commitment
of the opposition, a food waste law is still on the political agenda. The Parliament backed by the Labour Party (Ap), the agrarian Centre Party (Sp), the
Socialist Left (SV), the Christian Democrats (KrF ) and the Greens (MDG)
asked the government to draft a proposal for a food waste law with emphasis
on the food industry (NTB, 2018). The draft was expected at the end
of 2018.
One Norwegian NGO was particularly active in food waste reduction
campaigns and support for the state regulations: Future in our Hands (Framtiden i våre hender) wrote many press articles regarding food waste and delivered
a petition to the Norwegian Parliament. It also recently started to work with
municipalities and consumers through its ‘MatVinn’ project (Riise Jenssen,
2017).
A number of bottom- up initiatives appeared, e.g. a mobile app TooGoodToGo brought to Norway from Denmark. Online shopping websites and traditional shops started selling food that would be discarded in traditional
supermarkets due to nearing best- before dates (e.g. the Best Før supermarket,
as well as Holdbart stores and online shopping, etc.). Another interesting
initiative is a student restaurant concept offering gourmet lunches made from
food that is approaching its expiration date. Since its start on the Blindern
campus at the University of Oslo in 2015, it has further expanded to the Oslo
Metropolitan University (in 2017).
Summing up, it can be said that in Norway the main driver of food waste
governance is the industry, collaborating with civil society actors and public
administration.
Box 13.1 Milestones in food waste governance in Norway
• 2010: Launching of ForMat, a business- driven project involving the collaboration of supermarkets, food industry organisations and public authorities (industry driven)
• Spring 2012: The NGO ‘Future in our Hands’ launched a series of food
waste reduction articles, events and campaigns (civil society driven)
• August 2013: Norway launched a national waste management strategy
‘From Waste to Resources’ (public agency driven)
• Autumn 2013: First food bank in Oslo emerges, orchestrated by the
Church Mission, the Blue Cross and the Salvation Army. The authorities,
industry (NorgesGruppen) and the ForMat project all supported the idea
(civil society driven)
to evaluate the introduction of a potential food waste law (similar laws had
recently been introduced in France (Mourad, 2015) and Italy), meant to
strengthen the bottom- up voluntary process with binding state regulation.
The final evaluation issued in September 2017 by the Ministry of Agriculture
and Food concluded that the Industry Agreement was a sufficient first step in
emerging Norwegian food waste governance, putting the binding public
regulation on hold. Because of the strong food waste reduction commitment
of the opposition, a food waste law is still on the political agenda. The Parliament backed by the Labour Party (Ap), the agrarian Centre Party (Sp), the
Socialist Left (SV), the Christian Democrats (KrF ) and the Greens (MDG)
asked the government to draft a proposal for a food waste law with emphasis
on the food industry (NTB, 2018). The draft was expected at the end
of 2018.
One Norwegian NGO was particularly active in food waste reduction
campaigns and support for the state regulations: Future in our Hands (Framtiden i våre hender) wrote many press articles regarding food waste and delivered
a petition to the Norwegian Parliament. It also recently started to work with
municipalities and consumers through its ‘MatVinn’ project (Riise Jenssen,
2017).
A number of bottom- up initiatives appeared, e.g. a mobile app TooGoodToGo brought to Norway from Denmark. Online shopping websites and traditional shops started selling food that would be discarded in traditional
supermarkets due to nearing best- before dates (e.g. the Best Før supermarket,
as well as Holdbart stores and online shopping, etc.). Another interesting
initiative is a student restaurant concept offering gourmet lunches made from
food that is approaching its expiration date. Since its start on the Blindern
campus at the University of Oslo in 2015, it has further expanded to the Oslo
Metropolitan University (in 2017).
Summing up, it can be said that in Norway the main driver of food waste
governance is the industry, collaborating with civil society actors and public
administration.
Box 13.1 Milestones in food waste governance in Norway
• 2010: Launching of ForMat, a business- driven project involving the collaboration of supermarkets, food industry organisations and public authorities (industry driven)
• Spring 2012: The NGO ‘Future in our Hands’ launched a series of food
waste reduction articles, events and campaigns (civil society driven)
• August 2013: Norway launched a national waste management strategy
‘From Waste to Resources’ (public agency driven)
• Autumn 2013: First food bank in Oslo emerges, orchestrated by the
Church Mission, the Blue Cross and the Salvation Army. The authorities,
industry (NorgesGruppen) and the ForMat project all supported the idea
(civil society driven)