In Ukraine, approximately 3 million tons of food waste are generated each year, a significant portion of which consists of products that must be disposed of due to expiration. However, in many European countries, according to updated EU directives aimed at reducing food waste by 2030, such products should be donated to charity through a network of food banks rather than destroyed.
This is reported by Finway
Growing Need for Humanitarian Assistance
According to the latest data from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the number of people in need of humanitarian support in Ukraine has reached 12.7 million. Among them are nearly 4.6 million internally displaced persons, over 3 million people with disabilities, including 231,000 children. Almost half of the approximately 10 million pensioners receive pensions of less than 5,000 hryvnias. If current trends continue, by the end of 2026, the number of people in need of assistance could rise to over 14 million.
Food banks help address hunger and improve food security by drawing on European experience. The European Federation of Food Banks (FEBA) distributes over 834,000 tons of food annually across 30 countries.
How Food Banks Operate and Legislative Initiatives
The main mechanism of food banks involves the transfer of products nearing expiration but still fit for consumption from producers and retailers. After sorting, these products are distributed among those in need. Products are divided into two categories: perishable items (such as dairy products and meat), which must be disposed of after expiration, and goods labeled “Best Before.” The latter can be sold at a discount, and after the final expiration date, they can either be disposed of or donated to food banks.
The cost of disposing of food waste in Ukraine is around 3,500 hryvnias per ton, which adds an additional financial burden on businesses. In addition to economic benefits, the operation of food banks has an environmental impact: disposing of one ton of food waste leads to the emission of over 2 tons of CO₂.
“Given Ukraine’s Euro-integration course, the adoption of such regulations is becoming inevitable for us.”
The network of the Ukrainian Food Banks already includes five regional banks in Kyiv, Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, and Odesa regions. The Kyiv food bank has over 1,000 square meters of warehouse space and a refrigeration unit of 120 m², as well as refrigerated vehicles. Collaboration with volunteers is crucial, with over 1,000 volunteers in the network. Special attention is currently being given to residents of frontline regions.
Among the partners are retail chains such as Auchan and Novus. However, food banks are calling for cooperation from all retailers, as this model is the most effective for organizing assistance.
Funding for the activities of food banks is provided by the European Federation of Food Banks (FEBA).
The Ukrainian Food Banks, in collaboration with the Ministry of Economy and relevant agencies, have prepared a draft law aimed at improving the food donation system. This includes the introduction of two expiration dates (for sale and for consumption), exemption from VAT for producers and retailers who donate products to food banks, and mandatory donation of goods for retailers with an area exceeding 400 m². Additionally, it is proposed to prohibit the disposal of food products that can be donated to banks and to impose fines for violations of this regulation.
Control over the prevention of the sale of humanitarian products is conducted in accordance with European standards, with annual external audits of the organizations’ activities.
Yulia Abakumova, Kyiv