Tackling food loss in Japan from a map with Tasukeaeru app

Food waste is not a new problem in Japan. Every year, 6.12 million tonnes of food is being thrown out. This amounts up to 132 grams of food waste per person, the equivalent of tossing out a bowl of rice every day. Furthermore, with the ongoing pandemic, the situation of food waste is more dire than before.

The sudden outbreak of COVID-19 has affected the livelihood of many industries, and without a doubt, the food and beverage industry has suffered one of the hardest blows. With more and more people staying at home along with the discouragement of outdoor activities such as dining out, many businesses are suspended. These circumstances have impacted local farmers, factories, restaurants and shops to deal with surplus inventory, many of which are due to be discarded eventually.

Tasukeaeru is an online marketplace for surplus food inventory, created to solve the unforeseen food waste and support local businesses impacted by the outbreak of coronavirus. This free web application serves as a platform that connects businesses with individuals to sell and buy food respectively.

Another thing to note about this platform is its convenience. Users are able to use the application without registering for an account. In addition, the buying and selling process is simple. All sellers have to do is submit a form with all the required information, and their listings will be reflected in the interface.

Buyers will then navigate the map with an overview of listings available for sale. Each listing is pinned, with photos, at their respective location where it is sold or produced. This gives buyers a better understanding of the community they are supporting, and also the ability to explore what is available in their vicinity.

Beyond the pandemic, Tasukeaeru plans to develop and expand their services to further reduce the problem of food waste in Japan.