The world is undergoing a food waste crisis on an unprecedented scale. If food waste were to be a country it would be the third biggest source of greenhouse gas emissions. The European Union (EU) is no exception to this problem. Today, roughly 20% of EU food production – all 153 million tonnes of it - is wasted annually exceeding the quantity of food imported. The problem is not just wasteful, it’s costly. Estimates suggests food waste costs EU businesses and households €143bn a year and is responsible for at least 6% of the EU’s total greenhouse gas emissions, according to a report by The Guardian newspaper. One of the reasons behind food waste is mis-used date labelling of products while another is unused food thrown out by retailers and restaurants.
Luisa, a recent NTT DATA Business Solutions hire, joined Foodsharing Darmstadt e.V. back in 2020. Having always believed in the role of sustainable living, Luisa tells us more about how she is helping to address the food waste problem in her local town in Germany.
How and why did you decide to dedicate your time to reducing food waste?
A few years ago, I attended an event and the food served for the 150 guests was exclusively made from food that would otherwise have been thrown away. I found it amazing and wanted to take something away from the experience. It was in that moment, that I decided to join the Foodsharing association, to play my part in helping to tackle the problem of food waste. The association has many volunteers, all across Germany and I belong to the one near my home in Darmstadt, close to Frankfurt.
How do you help the Foodsharing association?
Around three times a week I take time at the end of the day going around to the local supermarkets, canteens and bakeries to collect food that cannot be sold. I will typically go on with one or two others but sometimes I go alone. The time it takes depends a little on the number of people in your local association. In Darmstadt there are 300 volunteers so each mission takes about 30 minutes. All the food we collect is good enough to eat, it just doesn’t meet the strict criteria to sell. For instance, it could be damaged packaging, or mis-shaped vegetables or be approaching its use-by date. All the food is checked carefully for quality first to be sure we are only sharing high quality food produce. The food is then shared with friends and family and local communities including the homeless. I have a WhatsApp group of around 50 people and I write what I have collected each evening so that people can come to collect it. Normally I collect around three or four large crates of food for every mission that would otherwise be thrown away.
What has been the response from people to this?
We collect the food for free and share it for free – that’s what I really like about it. The retailers like the program a lot because it saves them from having to spend money on garbage collection. And the people like it because they get free food. For some of the homeless people, or those on very low incomes, it also means they get to eat foods that perhaps they could not otherwise afford. Fresh fish, for instance, is normally very expensive but through our scheme, they can get it for free.
What does food sharing mean to you and why is it important?
This is, for sure, the most meaningful hobby I’ve ever had. We have become so used to abundance that we’ve lost our appreciation for seasonal produce and the cost has been detrimental to nature. This is really a passion of mine and I want to rescue more and more food to stop the damage to our environment. I try to educate people on food waste where I can, encourage them to eat food that is still good to eat. It is not sustainable to keep going as we are because our demands for abundant food is destroying nature.
How does this passion help you in your job?
I look to live in a carbon neutral way so I began with changes to my diet. I became a vegetarian and turned to sustainable transport to get around. The next step for me was to join an association to be more sustainable so I do that through the Foodsharing association. Lastly, I wanted to connect my passion with my career so I am now doing an MBA in sustainability management. Together, with my job, it really optimizes my lifestyle choices in a very holistic way and that makes me very happy.
How do you feel about your job now?
I feel honored and privileged to be in my role. I had very little experience when I first began but put a lot of effort into leading the change so for me Covid was actually a help. The work I do now makes me happy because I know it’s having a big impact, which is really important to me, so I’m truly privileged to be doing this on a global basis.
What would be your advice to others to encourage them into volunteering?
I’d say it’s easy to be busy but volunteering is really important and shows others that you are trying to find the time to give something back. The feeling that it gives you is so rewarding and helps to improve mental health, will reinvigorate you and even make you more productive. The impact we can all have is huge. If all 40,000 employees were to spend the three days allowed to them for volunteer work that would equate to 120,000 days of service giving back to our society and special causes. It’s also a brilliant opportunity for getting your team together and doing something with a shared purpose, enjoying the fresh air and doing good at the same time.
Luisa Swetlik
One of NTT’s newest recruits, Luisa joined NTT DATA Business Solutions in Germany in April 2023 as Innovation Manager for Sustainability. In addition to her work at NTT she is currently completing an MBA in Sustainable Management to gain professional qualifications in the field of business sustainability. Luisa’s job is a mix of project work and consultancy, helping customers to solve problems from reporting on the circular economy to managing their carbon footprint. She lives in Darmstadt and fulfils a sustainable lifestyle wherever possible. Luisa invites her NTT colleagues to get in contact with her for any questions relating to this topic and /or if you would like to know more about the Foodsharing Association.
Toastmasters International is a non-profit organization that provides teaching and education in public speaking and leadership skills. Adult programming is delivered through both public and company-sponsored clubs—like Toastmasters at NTT DATA.
Half of the world's soils have reached a level close to desertification because of agricultural soils. In our Asia-Pacific area, one of our VPs is raising awareness about this issue and possible solutions.
Companies that are more diverse and inclusive are 35% more likely to outperform. The mission of this NTT Ltd employee is to ensure greater equality and equity at work for all in the company.
Bill Zuck, from NTT DATA, was a victim of a troubled past but is now is working with Alternatives to Violence Program to build peace in the home, schools and communities.
These are the stories of two employees at NTT in the UK leading the force for change as they look to educate others and provide a safe workplace for a diverse workforce.
Maurice Ripp, from NTT DATA DACH, encourages a more open dialogue around death and connect people as they learn to manage grief and the mental struggles that death can induce.
Gaurav Oberai NTT Ltd is a committed volunteer in a charity called The New Charis Mission to support the lonely elderly population in Singapore.
NTT Ltd UK&I last year took the initiative to set up a brand-new program called The Mental Health Avengers (MHA) to break down the stigma attached to mental health.
During the pandemic, Lisa Pendlebury from NTT Ltd, re-evaluate her life choices and began volunteering with The Beach Guardians, to hold the beaches clean from litter and plastic.
Monika Guida, from NTT Europe, promotes between NTT employees to plogging, a relatively new eco-friendly exercise that combines jogging or brisk walking with picking up litter.
As a keen ornithologist, Beth George, from NTT Americas, spends her weekends supporting the local conservation center which aims to protect and save birds of prey in Florida.
Gadhu Sundaram, from NTT DATA, is fighting climate change at a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, restoring the natural ecosystem of an area in the south of India.
Combining a commitment to building a more diverse workforce while fulfilling a business need to access a digital talent pool, NTT DATA UK embarked on a brand new hiring adventure.
Every year at NTT DATA Munich, the employees have the opportunity to make a children’s wish come true. Learn more about this inspiring initiative from Inga Simon.
Employees at NTT DATA have been keen to join the NTT DATA / Environment / Sustainability / Technology (NEST) action group led by Fernanda Gallardo to make a sustainable difference.
