Scholarlink

<p>Science and policy have increasingly focused on the socio-economic and ecological problems associated with food waste and are working on reducing them. Normative frameworks, such as the Food Waste Hierarchy (FWH) on a EU level, have been established, but the regulation of surplus food remains complex. The study considers the daily work of food-waste donation and redistribution actors in the UK and Germany. Specifically, the article examines how they navigate legal challenges related to the donation and redistribution of surplus food, in particular, the interpretation and implementation of the FWH. From a&#xa0;legal geographies perspective, empirical data are analysed from 19 semi-structured interviews conducted in 2017 and 2024 with representatives from civil society, the retail sector, and politics, as well as British, German, and EU-related legislation and initiatives. The findings highlight how existing legal frameworks inadequately address obstacles such as liability concerns, financial incentives, and operational challenges. They reveal gaps and legal grey areas within British, German, and EU governance, and that a lack of effective policy measures can lead to the neglect of “better” stages according to the FWH. The research further shows a&#xa0;structural tension between the primary objective of the FWH— consistent prevention of food waste at source—and the growing importance of surplus redistribution as a&#xa0;social policy instrument. The article closes with suggestions for policy measures that could facilitate the redistribution of food for human consumption.</p>

错误：搜索内容不能为空，请输入英文关键词
错误：关键词超出字数限制，请精简
高级检索

Rechtliche Grauzonen in der Lebensmittelabfallhierarchie. Lebensmittelabfallspenden und -umverteilung in Deutschland und dem Vereinigten Königreich

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

    开放获取

  • 发表日期：

    2026年4月8日

查看全文
  • Amelie Bernzen,
  • Christine Bonnin,
  • Hannah Friedrich

摘要

Science and policy have increasingly focused on the socio-economic and ecological problems associated with food waste and are working on reducing them. Normative frameworks, such as the Food Waste Hierarchy (FWH) on a EU level, have been established, but the regulation of surplus food remains complex. The study considers the daily work of food-waste donation and redistribution actors in the UK and Germany. Specifically, the article examines how they navigate legal challenges related to the donation and redistribution of surplus food, in particular, the interpretation and implementation of the FWH. From a legal geographies perspective, empirical data are analysed from 19 semi-structured interviews conducted in 2017 and 2024 with representatives from civil society, the retail sector, and politics, as well as British, German, and EU-related legislation and initiatives. The findings highlight how existing legal frameworks inadequately address obstacles such as liability concerns, financial incentives, and operational challenges. They reveal gaps and legal grey areas within British, German, and EU governance, and that a lack of effective policy measures can lead to the neglect of “better” stages according to the FWH. The research further shows a structural tension between the primary objective of the FWH— consistent prevention of food waste at source—and the growing importance of surplus redistribution as a social policy instrument. The article closes with suggestions for policy measures that could facilitate the redistribution of food for human consumption.