From surplus to support:
a smarter way to share food

Millions of perfectly good meals are wasted every year in Swedish public kitchens—while more families struggle to afford nutritious food. A new initiative by Ätbart aims to change that.

About the project

“Resurssmart kommun” connects municipalities with local food banks to redistribute surplus meals from public kitchens. The goal is simple: reduce food waste and improve access to nutritious food.

At least 20 municipalities are expected to implement the model, with Ätbart coordinating partnerships, logistics and food safety. The project builds on prevention and early intervention—ensuring that resources are used before they become waste.

Prepared meals from schools and public kitchens offer a valuable complement to existing food aid, which often lacks nutritional quality.

What the funding from Kavli Trust will support

Funding from the Kavli Trust will help scale and implement the model across Sweden. It will support:

• building partnerships between municipalities and food banks
• developing safe and efficient logistics systems
• ensuring compliance and food safety standards
• monitoring impact and sharing best practices

The initiative combines environmental impact with social benefit—grounded in strong local partnerships.

About Ätbart

Ätbart is a Swedish non-profit organisation working towards a fairer and more sustainable food system. Since 2019, it has built a national food bank network bringing together around 70 organisations.

Its work combines research, collaboration and hands-on implementation—always with a strong local focus.