Unilever and Too Good To Go save 1 million products

In 2020, the collaboration between Unilever and Too Good To Go aimed at fighting food waste began. On 7 March 2023, the two parties announced that a total of 1 million products had been saved from being wasted. 

The partnership started by offering magic boxes - a surprise package of products that are near their 'best before date' or can no longer be sold through regular channels - with Unilever products through Too Good To Go's app. In late 2022, the two parties introduced the option of having a box of products from Unox, Knorr, Calvé and Conimex, among others, delivered to your home.

Geertje Zeegers, Country Manager Too Good To Go Netherlands: "In the meantime, more producers have joined in, making it possible to offer varied magic boxes such as a BBQ package and a World Cuisine package. We are also working with Unilever to set up a home delivery service in other countries, since we have proven in the Netherlands that it works."

Foodello and Food Bank

In addition to Too Good To Go, Unilever is also working with Foodello to offer products close to the 'best before date' at a lower purchase price. Foodello is an E-commerce platform that focuses on products that do not end up on supermarket shelves due to expiry dates or altered packaging. Unilever has also been working with the Food Bank for many years. Every year, Unilever donates over 1 million products.

Tackling food waste in consumers' homes

Over 10% of food waste at consumers' homes comes from confusion between the best before date and use by date. Recently, several Unilever brands introduced the 'look, smell, taste - before you waste' label on their packaging. The label can now be found on 60 products and is being looked at to add more. Other companies are also joining to use the logo on their product packaging.

Debora van der Zee - Denekamp, General Manager Unilever Nutrition Northern Europe: "We work daily on our mission to stop food waste. A passionate Unilever team of so-called 'Waste Warriors' is the driving force behind this. They map the risks of food waste and continuously come up with ideas to bring this even closer to zero. The cooperation with Too Good To Go, where we have already been able to offer 1 million products to consumers, is a good example of this. We now also offer products in Belgium and Denmark via this route."

Research into consumer behaviour around best-before dates

To better understand consumer behaviour regarding food waste, Wageningen University & Research, Foundation Together Against Food Waste, Too Good To Go and Unilever launched a study. The aim is to understand how consumers deal with a THT date. For example, certain products from Too Good To Go magic boxes are put in the pantry. Among other things, the research will map consumer behaviour around the shelf life of these products.

Unilever.nl