Did you know that large amounts of perfectly edible food are thrown away each day by shops, cafés and restaurants? That waste impacts our planet and our wallets, both as individuals and as communities. But there’s a simple and effective way you can help: the Too Good To Go app.
What it is
Too Good To Go is a free app that allows you to browse local food businesses with surplus items they don’t sell by the end of the day. You reserve what they call a “Surprise Bag”, pay via the app, then pick it up during the stated time-window.
You don’t know exactly what you’ll get—but you’ll receive perfectly good food that might otherwise have gone to waste, at a fraction of its usual price.
It even have a delivery section now which are items from the supplier… today I found luxury tea and biscuits and more.
Why it matters
Reducing food waste is one of the easiest ways to cut greenhouse-gas emissions, save resources (water, energy) and ease pressure on supply. By choosing surplus food you help shops recover value, reduce waste and support a more sustainable system.
In fact:
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Globally, Too Good To Go has saved over 200 million meals since its launch, equivalent to around 500,000 tonnes of CO₂e emissions avoided.
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In the UK alone, the app has achieved milestones such as 30 million+ meals saved, with UK users saving more than £95 million in one recent year.
- For specific business partnerships: for example, one chain saved over 850,000 meals through the app, helping avoid about 1.8 million kg of CO₂
These numbers mean every bag you pick up supports real change: less waste, less emissions, more value.
How to get started
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Download the app and enable your location (or set a preferred area).
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Browse nearby businesses offering Surprise Bags, filtering by type (bakery, meals, groceries) or pick-up time window.
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When you find a bag you like, reserve it and pay via the app.
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Go to the store during the specified pick-up window, show your app code to staff, and collect your bag.
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Enjoy your food—and feel good knowing you rescued it from the bin.
Tips to make the most of it
-Be flexible with what you’ll accept: since it’s a “surprise”, you may get things you hadn’t planned for, but that’s part of the fun.
-Check pick-up windows carefully: many bags are for end-of-day collections and are often snapped up quickly.
-Set payment details ahead of time so you’re ready when a good bag appears.
-Use filters in the app (e.g., vegetarian/vegan) if available; if not, choose bags from businesses that clearly list such options.
-Make the most of what you get: if some items won’t be eaten immediately, freeze or repurpose them to avoid letting them end up wasted again.
Why it’s good for our community
In our Eco Communities network we’re all about practical actions that reduce waste, save money and build a greener lifestyle. Using Too Good To Go is a perfect fit: it’s low-effort, delivers real value, and you can encourage friends, family and neighbours to join in too. Imagine multiple households rescuing surplus each week—together we’ll avoid tonnes of food waste and support local businesses at the same time.
In summary
If you haven’t tried it yet, download the Too Good To Go app and see what’s available in your area. A few minutes to browse and collect could mean good food saved from the bin, money left in your pocket and a boost for the planet. Let’s make every meal count!
This is my friend download link which will add some vouchers to my app – I won’t keep the money personally but will use any funds for our upcoming events including the Sustainable Cheshire Showcase.
