The Nordic Food Redistribution Project investigates food waste reduction through the redistribution of surplus food. The project goal is to increase and improve redistribution activities from donors to food banks and charity organisations in order to enhance both environmental and social sustainability in the Nordic region. The phase II report proposes best practice models concerning legislation, organisation, quality assurance and registration of food. Report recommendations are addressed at redistribution and food-serving actors, donors and authorities and focus on how to improve the quality of redistributed food, how to enhance collaboration between the various actors as well as how to prioritize and secure funding for redistribution activities. The report is part of the Nordic Prime Ministers’ green growth initiative: “The Nordic Region – leading in green growth.”

This report has a focus on waste prevention through redistribution of food to low-income people via charity organisations. Food redistribution can go via national food banks and via direct redistribution, often on a local level. Food banks redistributed about 1,5 mill meals in 2013, and local charity organisations probably 2–3 times more. The regulatory framework for food redistribution is described and discussed. The demand of and potential for redistribution is probably much higher than at present, and the reports points out strategies and measures for how food banks can contribute to secure and further develop. The report is part of the Nordic Prime Ministers’ overall green growth initiative: “The Nordic Region – leading in green growth” – read more in the web magazine “Green Growth the Nordic Way.”

For the first time, the most innovative food policy solutions in the Nordic Region have been brought together in a single document. The Solutions Menu includes 24 policies that aim to change food consumption and intends to inspire new and robust policy responses to the societal and environmental challenges caused by our current food systems. The Solutions Menu is produced by the Nordic Food Policy Lab, one of six flagship projects under the Nordic prime ministers’ Nordic Solutions to Global Challenges initiative.

Available online: https://pub.norden.org/temanord2023-504/ The Nordic region aims to be a forerunner in the transition to circular economy. This project aimed to find areas, industries, and sectors, and potential in them, important for the circular transition in the Nordics. The barriers for unleashing the potential were also studied.Four areas of industry and two cross-cutting drivers were selected for the study. The bioeconomy, the food and beverage sector, building and construction, and the mobility sector play a prominent role in the Nordic economies. They are also responsible for significant emissions and waste. The drivers – applying new circular business models and better exploiting data/digitalisation – can bring change that holds promise for significant benefits.The study’s results are summed up in a set of recommendations addressing how the barriers can be torn down and how positive impacts of circular transition can be supported.

In November 2011, the Nordic Prime Ministers commissioned the Nordic Council of Ministers to launch a new cross sectoral initiative for green growth. The Prime Ministers’ commission was based on the report, The Nordic Region – leading in green growth, prepared by a Nordic working group for green growth. The Nordic countries should together utilise their position in terms of energy efficiency, development of sustainable energy, environmental awareness, innovation and research initiatives, and high international goals in the environmental and climate area. The aim is to work in areas in which the Nordic countries can build on and develop existing positions of strength, improve co-ordination between the Nordic countries, and take the lead in relation to the development in the European Union (EU). The Councils of Ministers are making tangible the working group’s eight recommendations for project activities, which have been granted a total of DKK 45 million in the period 2012–2014. This status report presents the most important advances in each project. More information on the initiative is also available on the home page of the Council of Ministers, www.norden.org/greengrowth.

There is an increased focus on ensuring optimal use of the resources of the planet. However experience shows that legislation can hinder the use of the resources from waste. This report examines the unintended consequences that legislation, enforcement and other formal institutions can have on utilization of biowaste as a resource. The project consists of three main elements: 1) Desk research 2) Qualitative phone interviews with relevant actors in Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland. 3) Solution dialogues with authorities. The barriers to better utilisation of biowaste are diffuse, and the solutions complex. A mixture of changes in regulation, better cooperation and coordination between regulative bodies, and better guidance and information sharing between national- and municipal authorities and the business community would together reduce the barriers for utilisation of biowaste.

Abstract: This report has a focus on waste prevention through redistribution of food to low-income people via charity organisations. Food redistribution can go via national food banks and via direct redistribution, often on a local level. Food banks in the Nordic region redistributed about 1.5 mill meals in 2013, and local charity organisations probably 2-3 times more. The regulatory framework for food redistribution is described and discussed in the report. The demand of and potential for redistribution is probably much higher than at present, and the report points out strategies and measures for how food banks can contribute to secure a further development. The report is part of the Nordic Prime Ministers' overall green growth initiative: "The Nordic Region - leading in green growth"--Read more in the web magazine "Green Growth the Nordic Way."