Together against food waste
Save it, don’t waste it.
You pick up what bakeries, shops and restaurants near you would otherwise throw away – and share it with the people around you. Voluntary, free of charge, together with many others.
Already a member? Log in
What it’s about
Every day good food ends up in the bin – in shops, bakeries, restaurants and at home. You pick it up before that happens and share it with people near you. No money, no obligation, together with many others. Since 2012, run by volunteers, ad-free and open source.
- As a foodsaverYou pick up what businesses can no longer sell and take it to where it gets eaten.
- At homeCooked too much or going on holiday? Offer a food basket or bring it to a Fairteiler.
- As a businessYou run a shop or a restaurant? We pick up reliably – free of charge and with a liability waiver.
What we achieve together
Getting started takes just 2 minutes.
Four steps. The first three online, whenever you like – then you head out with experienced foodsavers.
- Online
- On site
- You’re in
- Create an accountWith an email link, Google or a passkey. No password needed.about 2 minutes
- Learn the basicsThe foodsharing basics: principles, code of conduct, hygiene rules, legal agreement – read at your pace, look up any time.about 45 minutes
- Foodsaver quizOnline, whenever you like. Several attempts are fine.about 30 minutes
- Intro pickups & IDAt least three pickups with experienced foodsavers. Your ambassador checks your ID once – then you get your foodsaver ID card.depends on dates in your district
- You pick up on your own
Near you
Districts are our local groups, Fairteiler are public fridges and shelves. Find both around the corner.
What is a Fairteiler?
A Fairteiler is a public fridge or shelf. Everyone may bring and take food – no account, no questions. Foodsavers fill it with rescued food and keep it clean.
- Bring what you would still eat yourself
- Take what you need
- No raw meat, no alcohol
For businesses
For businesses: become a partner
We pick up what you can no longer sell. You set it aside – vetted foodsavers from your area take care of everything else.
- Free of chargeNo fees, no fixed-term contract. Nothing is resold – the food is given away.
- Lower disposal costsLess in the container, fewer collections, lower fees.
- No extra work for your teamFoodsavers sort, pack and carry everything away themselves.
- We take almost everythingPast best-before date, dairy, day-old bread, damaged packaging.
- Reliable – weekends tooFixed pickup times, early or late, Saturdays and Sundays. If someone drops out, the team steps in.
- Liability waiverEvery foodsaver signs it in our legal agreement – before their first pickup.
Door sticker included
“Since we started working with foodsharing, the container is half empty in the evening – and the team goes home on time.”
More ways to help
foodsharing is run by volunteers, independent, ad-free and open source. There is more than one way to be part of it.
- Food basketsCooked too much? Offer a food basket – someone from the neighbourhood picks it up.
- Donatefoodsharing is run by volunteers and ad-free. Your donation pays for servers, insurance and material.
- IT & helping outThe platform is open source. Code, design, translation or press work – you’re welcome.
Your commitments
Foodsharing works because businesses can rely on us. That’s why you promise a few things – nothing more.
What you promise
- Be reliableYou only sign up when you’re sure you’ll come. If it doesn’t work out, you sign off early and find a replacement.
- Take everything, throw nothing awayYou take everything edible and pass on what you don’t need – to people or to a Fairteiler.
- Sell nothingRescued food is given away, never sold or traded.
- Be friendly at the businessOn time, with your foodsaver ID, no arguing about amount or kind – and you leave everything clean.
- Keep things confidentialYou don’t pass on other foodsavers’ data or internal information.
What you don’t have to do
- No minimum number of pickupsYou decide yourself how often you take part.
- No costs, no contractYou can pause or stop at any time.
- Never alone at the startYou do your first pickups with experienced foodsavers.
Frequently asked questions
Joining
What does a foodsaver do?
You pick up food from businesses that would otherwise end up in the bin – and make sure it gets eaten: by you, your neighbours or via a Fairteiler.
Who can join?
Everyone aged 18 or over with an official ID. You don’t need any prior knowledge – you learn everything along the way.
Does it cost anything?
No. foodsharing is run by volunteers, free of charge and ad-free. You pay nothing, and you don’t get paid either.
How much time do I need?
The three online steps take a little over an hour in total, and you can read in several sittings. After that you decide yourself when and how often you pick up.
What do I need to get started?
An email address or a Google account. For the foodsaver ID card your ambassador checks your official ID once – nobody keeps a copy.
Picking up
What are my commitments?
In short: be reliable, take everything, sell nothing, be friendly. The full list is above under “Your commitments”.
What if I can’t make a pickup?
Sign off as early as possible and let your team know. Less than 24 hours before, you also call so someone can step in.
Do I have to take everything?
Yes, everything edible the business gives you – unless something else was agreed. What you don’t need, you pass on.
Is the food safe?
Only what is still edible is rescued. In the learning pages and the quiz you learn what to watch out for: cold chain, shelf life, packaging.
Sharing without an account
What is a Fairteiler?
A public fridge or shelf. Everyone may put food in or take it out – no account needed.
Can I take part without pickups?
Yes. With a food basket you offer your own food or pick some up from others. All you need is an account, no quiz.
I run a business – how do I become a partner?
Write to us via “Become a partner” above. Your district gets in touch and agrees times and procedures with you.
Anything else? Read the wiki or write to us.
Ready? Your district is waiting.
An account in two minutes, the rest step by step.