What Is YourLocal All About?
YourLocal is a socially responsible company on a mission to help local consumers save money while cutting down on food waste. It teams up with favorite neighborhood shops and restaurants to make this happen. Through the YourLocal app, shops can post offers on food that needs to be sold quickly, sending notifications to nearby users who are eager to snag a tasty deal just before closing time. It’s a simple, smart way to save cash, buy quality food, and keep perfectly good meals out of the trash.
The Main Benefit: Saving Money and Reducing Waste
Here’s the lowdown on why YourLocal matters:
- Consumers can get discounts of up to 70% on surplus food.
- Local shops and restaurants can sell food that might otherwise go unsold.
- The app notifies users every time their favorite spots have surplus food available.
- Food can be purchased directly in the app and picked up before the shop closes.
- This solution benefits everyone involved — shoppers, local businesses, and the environment.
How It All Got Started
Believe it or not, YourLocal began as a simple text message chain on Vesterbro, started by two friends, Sebastian and Kasper. Their idea? Connect local shops and consumers to fight food waste together. Whenever a shop had extra food, the text chain would buzz, and friends and family got first dibs on great deals. This grassroots solution caught on fast, and by 2015, those two friends launched Denmark’s first app dedicated to battling food waste.
Why This Fight Against Food Waste Is So Important
Food waste isn’t just a bummer for your wallet — it’s a huge problem worldwide. Here’s the scoop:
- One third of all food produced is wasted.
- In Denmark alone, over 814,000 tons of food are thrown away every year — that’s more than 13 billion kroner down the drain.
- About a third of food never even makes it to the consumer, lost during transport or wasted in restaurants, shops, homes, and institutions.
- Over 10% of the world’s total energy consumption goes into producing food that ends up uneaten.
- Food production, shipping, storage, and processing contribute roughly 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
How the App Works for You
Using the YourLocal app is pretty straightforward. You follow your favorite local shops and restaurants, and every time they have surplus food, you get a notification. Then, you can jump on the deal, purchase the food right in the app, and pick it up before the shop closes. It’s a win-win: you get delicious, freshly made food at a fraction of the price, and the shops avoid wasting perfectly good meals.
Positive Impact on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
- SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production — by reducing food waste.
- SDG 13: Climate Action — cutting down greenhouse gas emissions linked to food production and waste.
- SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities — supporting local businesses and fostering community connections.
- SDG 2: Zero Hunger — making food more accessible and affordable.
Delicious Food from Your Neighborhood
With YourLocal, you can score tasty, freshly made food from a variety of local shops and restaurants. It’s not just about leftovers — it’s about rescuing quality meals that might otherwise be tossed. So next time you’re craving something good, check the app and see what your neighborhood has to offer. It’s good for your belly, your wallet, and the planet.
