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Lestra in Horn: Containers with style – goodbye to food waste!
The Lestra department store in Bremen supports Containern by providing fresh, unsold food every day. Managing director Strangemann advocates responsible handling of food.
Lestra in Horn: Containers with style – goodbye to food waste!
In the Horn district of Bremen, the Lestra department store has launched a remarkable initiative that enables people to get healthy food for free. Instead of these going into the trash, employees provide a cart every morning with fresh fruits and vegetables that are no longer for sale but are still edible. This happens openly and without bypassing security precautions. Numerous people use these donations every day.
Cornelius Strangemann, the managing director of Lestra, follows a clear ethical approach with his policies. “Nobody is reported here,” he emphasizes, which points to the legal dilemma surrounding containers. Collecting food from waste containers is legally considered theft. Despite this legal gray area, Strangemann is convinced that most people who use the food provided act responsibly.
Rights and laws surrounding containers
The federal political discussion about containers has recently gained momentum. Together, Federal Justice Minister Marco Buschmann and Federal Food Minister Cem Özdemir have proposed a reform that could make the collection of throwaway food unpunished, provided no laws are violated. However, there has been no legal progress so far. Meanwhile, container penalties are sporadically in the news, as was the case recently in Vienna, where a man was convicted of “theft” even though he got through an open gate.
In recent years, the food industry has developed various strategies to counteract food waste. Retail companies such as Aldi and Rewe are actively involved in fundraising for charitable organizations or sell soon-to-be-expired products at reduced prices. The Too Good To Go app also helps reduce food waste by enabling the sale of rescue bags.
At Lestra, the value of food is highly valued. “Throwing away food is the worst case in the recycling chain,” explains Strangemann. When possible, unsold fruits and vegetables are given to local churches or even to animals at the nearby botanical garden. The department store's commitment is an example of how to create positive change in the community without violating the laws of the Republic.