European Food Banks Federation - FEBA

On 19 February, the Council Presidency and European Parliament representatives reached a provisional agreement on the targeted revision of the Waste Framework Directive, setting EU targets for #FoodWaste reduction by 2030 and measures towards a more sustainable and less waste-producing textile sector.  This represents a good first step in reducing food waste across the EU and highlights the importance of respecting the food waste hierarchy and prioritizing redistribution for human consumption, like for instance through #FoodBanks.  📢 European Food Banks Federation - FEBA will continue to advocate for higher targets across the entire food chain, as more ambitious targets are needed in order to reach SDG 12.3 to halve food waste per capita by 2030.     ➡️ What are the next steps? The amendments will enter into force once they are formally adopted and published in the Official Journal. Based on the indicated timeline by the Commission, EU Members States will then have 20 months (until 2027) to transpose the new rules into national legislation.  Read more here: https://lnkd.in/dYVc3T36

This week, our Fundraising and Partnerships Manager, Anna Dekker, M.A., spoke at Geopost HQ in Paris, presenting the work of the European Food Banks Federation - FEBA. The discussion covered key achievements, upcoming challenges across the network, and the impact of Geopost’s support over the past three years.    Key highlights of the partnership include:  ➡️Support for refugees in Ukraine and Romania after the outbreak of the war in 2022.  ➡️Critical operational support for Food Banks across the FEBA network in 2023 and 2024 and beyond. ➡️Fundraising and awareness-raising initiatives by Geopost staff in support of FEBA’s work.   👏 Congratulations to the winners of the Geopost ‘Step Up for Food Banks Challenge’ employee fundraising challenge, who nearly doubled the target to walk 2 million steps in one week to raise funds for the local FEBA Member!    Thanks to Geopost for your continued commitment to sustainability and support of FEBA’s mission to reduce food waste and help those in need.

Welcome to the team, Aurore Mourette! Aurore possesses extensive expertise in high-level strategy and implementation, sustainability, waste management, and EU policy. From sustainability to business innovation, she has developed forward-thinking strategies that position organisations as pioneers and innovators, firmly establishing them as key players within their industries. She has been deeply involved in scaling up NGOs focused on nature preservation and in leading educational programmes for underprivileged children in France, Brazil, and Romania. Her favourite cuisine is anything prepared by her husband – always made with love and exceptional talent!

Since its establishment in 2016, the Banca pentru Alimente Bucuresti has exemplified dedication and collaboration, strengthening its partnership with #FEBA. A key milestone was when Banca pentru Alimente Bucuresti joined FEBA as an Associate Member in April 2019. Later, in 2020, the Federația Băncilor pentru Alimente din România – FBAR was formed. Their collaboration with FEBA has led to initiatives such as a communications workshop during the FEBA Annual Convention and joint Data Collection efforts. This fall, FBAR's transparency and excellence were recognized with the announcement that, as of November 14, 2024, FEBA granted them Full Member status. We congratulate Federația Băncilor pentru Alimente din România – FBAR on this achievement, which reflects their hard work and dedication, and we are very proud to have them as a valued member of our network. 💚 #WeAreFEBA

To mark #VolunteerDay, the Brussels Bloomberg team came together to make a meaningful impact by assembling around 500 food and hygiene supply kits for the Brussels Brabant Food Bank. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who participated and made this effort possible. A special thanks also goes out to the countless volunteers, both regular and occasional, who dedicate their time to #FoodBanks. Their contributions are crucial to combating hunger and reducing food waste. It’s worth recognising that across Europe, the work of Food Banks relies heavily on volunteers, who currently make up an impressive 94% of the workforce (according to 2023 data from FEBA Members).

As winter approaches, millions of Ukrainians are facing severe food shortages. The world boxing champion Oleksandr #Usyk has partnered with the European Food Banks Federation & Ukrainian Food Banks Federation to ensure no one goes hungry during these challenging times. 🎯Our shared goal is 1 million euros or 25,000 food kits. Your donation will help deliver vital food supplies to families, children, and displaced persons across #Ukraine. Every contribution makes an impact in providing meals to those in urgent need. Together, we stand with Ukraine! #Donate now & Learn more: https://lnkd.in/dPAGXdKn

Many FEBA Members carry out #FoodCollections in their countries at this time of year. During these initiatives, countless citizens collaborate, enabling #FoodBanks to gather supplies and replenish stocks in their warehouses. Food collections are only possible thanks to the collaboration of thousands of supermarkets and retailers and the mobilisation of hundreds of thousands of volunteers. This year, several Carrier employees made valuable contributions: 📍 In Prague, Czech Republic, 15 employees participated in a volunteering initiative on 21 November with the Czech Food Bank Potravinová banka Central, helping to sort goods and prepare food packages for beneficiaries. 📍 In Rueil-Malmaison, France, on 22 November, 10 employees from Carrier Transicold Europe volunteered their time to support the French Food Bank, the Fédération Française des Banques Alimentaires by assisting with food collections in three supermarkets near the office. Additionally, this year, Carrier donated $35,000 to #FEBA. These funds will support FEBA in expanding critical online data collection, developing a knowledge-sharing portal, and facilitating skill-sharing sessions across the network to enhance capacity-building efforts. Thank you, Carrier!

Yesterday, FEBA held the Inaugural “Taste of Thanks” Partners Event. In this virtual event, we had the chance to reflect on #FoodBanks' impact in Europe and acknowledge the importance of our Partners' support. As part of this event, we were glad to present the winners of the first edition of the FEBA #InnovationGrant, an initiative sponsored by General Mills and #Cargill that we started this year. The Innovation Grant, a beacon of hope for the food banking community, aims to distinguish innovative ideas from those of our members, inspiring us all to strive for excellence. The winners of this edition were: 🥇Magyar Élelmiszerbank Egyesület – Development of the Food For Free online platform for B2C food donations. 🥈Τράπεζα Τροφίμων – Tool for Delegated Distribution and Micro-Surplus Food Waste Prevention. 🥉FoodCloud – FoodCloud E-Commerce Development Project. 👏 Congratulations to the winners, and a heartfelt thank you to our sponsors, General Mills and #Cargill, for their invaluable support!

📢 FEBA is #hiring! FEBA is seeking an experienced and driven Head of Network Development and Policy, who will be responsible for leading, developing, and implementing strategies that expand the capacity, efficiency, and impact of the European Food Banks Federation’s network.  The role requires a hands-on manager with strong communication skills, an understanding of EU policies, and expertise in non-profit development. Reporting directly to the CEO, the Head of Network Development and Policy will play a crucial role in shaping the food banking movement and executing the core mission of FEBA. 📆 The application deadline is 5pm, Friday 15 November 2024 Know more: https://lnkd.in/ddSTeMEm

🤝 Today, we also want to express our gratitude to those who help us combat food insecurity and redistribute nutritious food to those in need. In 2023, the 352 Food Banks in our network redistributed over 839,000 tonnes of food through 44,000 charitable organisations, serving a total of 12.8 million people in need across Europe. Thanks to Amway ESAN’s generous donation, we were able to support nearly 17,000 children with food and assistance. Thank you, Amway ESAN! #WorldFoodDay