Inauguration of the Free-Go network aimed at reducing food waste

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The network of self-service refrigerators Free-Go, coordinated by the association Eco-Citoyen, was inaugurated on 1 June 2023 in the presence of the Mayor of Geneva, Mr Alfonso Gomez. The network currently includes 4 locations within the City of Geneva:

• Charmilles at Espace 99;
• Pâquis at Château-Bruyant;
• Plainpalais at the Maison Internationale des association (MIA);
• Centre de la Roseraie.

The aim of this project is to reduce food waste by providing residents with access to the surplus goods of the traders or inhabitants within their neighbourhood.

How does it work?

Through a partnership with the ​​​​​​​Hospice général, the principle involves organising rounds of local shops on cargo bikes to recover any unsold goods and place them in the Free-Go fridges so that anyone in need can serve themselves directly. The next stage in the development of the project aims to organise collections outside apartment buildings in order to encourage households to reduce food waste while making household surpluses available to other people. 

Enhancing awareness of the impact of wood waste

According to the Federal Office for the Environment, annual food waste in Switzerland totals a massive 2.8 million tonnes, which corresponds to a food production area of 180,000 hectares and the emission of 1.8 million tonnes of CO2. In light of the issue of food insecurity facing numerous people and for obvious ecological reasons, it is unacceptable to see people throwing away food that is still edible. According to Free-Go, no less than 80% of the food that is wasted could be saved and redistributed.

G’innove and Feed the City programmes

The Free-Go project has enjoyed support form the “G'innove” and “​​​​​​​Nourrir la ville” programmes operated by the City of Geneva, enabling it to build, install and manage these self-service refrigerators. These fridges proved hugely successful with the local residents and traders from the very outset. Over a period of ten months, the first installation in les Charmilles saved over 2.4 tonnes of food. Free-Go aims to recover 3 tonnes of food per year per installation that can be made available to those in need.

• The map of the network can be found on the de Free-Go website.
• G'innove programme: encouraging innovation in society, find out more.
• Feed the City programme: promoting short circuits, sustainable food and urban agriculture, find out more.