AI Takes on Food Waste at VivaTech 2024
Paris, Thursday, 22 August 2024.
VivaTech 2024 in Paris showcased AI-driven solutions to combat food waste, highlighting the tech industry’s focus on sustainability. Too Good To Go presented an AI system helping retailers reduce waste, while impact entrepreneurship emerged as a key theme at the event.
The Role of AI in Reducing Food Waste
At the forefront of VivaTech 2024’s initiatives was Too Good To Go, a company dedicated to minimizing food waste through innovative AI solutions. With a staggering 95 million international users, Too Good To Go’s platform helps grocery retailers manage and reduce their food waste by processing enormous amounts of data, including prices, consumption patterns, locations, and seasonality. Julie Johansen, the company’s Chief Commercial Officer, emphasized the platform’s ability to turn complex data into actionable insights. This technology is a prime example of how AI can contribute to solving global sustainability challenges.
How the AI Solution Works
Too Good To Go’s AI system operates by analyzing various data points related to food products. These data points include pricing trends, seasonal demand, and location-specific consumption patterns. By processing this information, the AI can predict which items are likely to go unsold and suggest timely discounts or promotions to retailers. This ‘win-win-win’ approach benefits users by offering them discounted food, retailers by reducing waste and increasing sales, and the planet by minimizing the environmental impact of food waste. The company boasts around 160,000 partners across 17 countries in Europe and North America, with plans to expand to Australia.
Global Impact and Future Expansion
The significance of this innovation is underscored by a UN Environment Programme report, which stated that households worldwide wasted over 1 billion meals per day in 2022. Too Good To Go’s AI solution aims to drastically reduce this figure. The company plans to extend its reach to Australia, further amplifying its global impact. This move aligns with the broader theme of impact entrepreneurship that was prominent at VivaTech 2024, where businesses are increasingly focused on generating positive environmental and social outcomes.
Other Notable Innovations at VivaTech 2024
Besides Too Good To Go, several other companies showcased their innovative solutions at VivaTech 2024. For instance, Tenchijin, a company specializing in AI and satellite data, presented a method to prevent water waste by analyzing the environment around water pipes. This technology has already reduced inspection costs significantly in Japanese cities and aims to address the 20% average water loss in French pipes. Another notable participant, Bioteos, introduced micro-algae-based air purifiers designed to depollute air in cafeterias and metro stations, demonstrating the diverse applications of AI in promoting sustainability.
The Broader Implications of AI in Sustainability
The innovations presented at VivaTech 2024 highlight the crucial role of AI in tackling some of the world’s most pressing environmental challenges. Companies like Too Good To Go and Tenchijin are leading the way in demonstrating how technology can be leveraged to create sustainable solutions that benefit both businesses and the planet. As these technologies continue to evolve and expand, their potential to make a significant impact on global sustainability efforts becomes increasingly apparent.