The UN says 50% less food waste. But the EU settles for 30% - Why? 🇪🇺

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Read time today: 2:23 min

Hi friend,

It’s Friday morning. You are reading VITAMIN C 🍋. 

Out of 5M+ daily posts about food and climate, only 5 deserve your attention.

Here’s this week’s starting lineup:

1. [Inspiration] ✨ A restaurant that changes lives

In London there is a new high class restaurant.

The lighting is perfect, the dishes look like art, and the reviews on the taste are phenomenal.

But there is one thing that makes Home Kitchen very special - its entire staff was once homeless.

Michelin-starred chef Adam Simmonds didn’t just open another fine-dining spot. He built a restaurant that gives people a second chance.

To set his employees up for success, he gives them a living wage, a pre-paid travel card for transportation, and funds for a catering qualification.

I LOVE this idea!

My mom used to work in a homeless shelter when I was little. I remember her telling me some devastating stories about the people there.

And ever since I wondered what I could do to help combat homelessness.

Now I know, I have to open a restaurant - who is in? :)

Check out Home Kitchen here.

2. [Food for Thought] 🇪🇺 EU Sets 30% Food Waste Reduction Target - but Is It Enough?

The EU has introduced its first legally binding food waste reduction targets:

↳ 30% cut in food waste from households, retail, and food services

↳ 10% reduction in processing and manufacturing waste

(against the baseline 2021-23 level)

With 60 million tonnes of food wasted annually in the EU, this directive is a step forward.

But some climate experts say this is “way too weak”.

They argue the targets fall short of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, which call for a 50% reduction across the entire supply chain by 2030.

The EU 30% goal is designed to be achievable rather than ambitious.

If they aimed for higher restrictions, policymakers would fear too much resistance. Some experts also point to lobbying from the food industry, which pushed back against stricter rules that could increase costs.

Read the full article here.

3. [Must-Watch] 🌽 Understanding the evolution of our food choices

Ever wondered how much our diets have changed over the years?

Back in 1980, a UK kitchen looked like this:

flour on the counter, a pot bubbling on the stove, fresh ingredients from the market. Cooking from scratch was just how things were done.

Then life sped up. Workdays stretched longer. Supermarkets filled with pre-cooked meals.

Cooking became a hassle and by the 2000s, convenience had officially won.

This 4-minute BBC video reveals a striking transformation in the UK's household diet since 1980.

Worth watching!

4. [Startup Spotlight] 🏗️ This company is turning construction into child's play

Remember building your dream house with Lego as a kid?

Well, that just became reality.

Gablok is making it possible. This Belgian company has reinvented homebuilding with insulated wooden blocks that stack together like Lego.

A DIY-friendly approach to homebuilding that reduces waste, speeds up assembly, and requires minimal technical skills.

Curious how it works? Check it out here.

PS. In case you were wondering: the Gablok buildings don’t really look like colorful Lego blocks as in this picture. That was me having fun with ChatGPT :)

 5. [Climate Heroes] 🌎 Who says teenagers can’t change the world?

Most climate information exists in English. But here’s the problem - 75% of the world’s population doesn’t speak English. That means billions are left out of the conversation on climate solutions.

The Iranian-American activist Sophia Kianni realized this gap at just 18 years old and decided to do something about it. She founded Climate Cardinals, a nonprofit that mobilizes 16k+ bilingual volunteers to translate climate resources into 100+ languages.

Now, at 21, she’s the youngest-ever UN advisor, standing alongside figures like Vanessa Nakate and Greta Thunberg to push for systemic change.

Check out Climate Cardinals here.

Stay awesome,
Lia

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