THE HELP DESK
Do Some Environmental Good With Too Good To Go
by Sophia Guevara
I recently learned about Too Good To Go, an app that allows users to participate in food rescue. Upon reading more about it and its impact on the environment, I was eager to give it a try. Unfortunately, I did not see any opportunities in the app to participate in food rescue in my state, but on a recent trip to Chicago, I remembered the app and did a quick search. There were opportunities in Chicago to purchase meals and groceries that would otherwise be thrown out. Not only could I do food rescue on this trip, I could also use the app to discover restaurants I had not tried yet—at a discount. All I had to do was make purchases in the Too Good To Go app.
The app’s website shares that it “lets you rescue unsold food at your favorite spots from an untimely fate.” It also highlights the value of the food for the consumer: Not only can you help reduce food waste, but you can also gain additional value for the food dollars you spend. I was surprised that several restaurants and grocery stores were already sold out by the time I checked the app in Chicago. I made two purchases based on how far away they were from my hotel.
Wanting to learn more about the app, I reviewed discussions on Reddit. I found that some app users suggest you pay careful attention to the ratings others have given a restaurant or grocery store. Some who posted had particular favorites they visited because their experience and the food were good. I also learned that some users place their orders the day before to make sure they don’t miss out. In addition, do a search for Too Good To Go on YouTube, and you’ll find some videos of interest.
FIRST PURCHASES
On the app, there were different options to pay, and I chose PayPal. I decided to pick up a bag at Circle K, as there was one close by, and I often find the food to be tasty. I wondered what my order would contain. Hot dogs? Sandwiches? Chips? From the description, the Circle K I was going to pick up the order from had been participating in Too Good To Go for about a month, with more than 50 meals saved. When I went to get my bag, it had a couple of sandwiches, doughnuts, and a cookie. I was happy with my purchase.
I also decided to try a restaurant called Roost Chicken & Biscuits. Upon reviewing the information about the restaurant, I saw that more than 2,500 meals had been saved. I was impressed! I took public transit and waited patiently for the pickup time. Once I walked out with my order, what I found inside tasted good. My purchase not only fed me, but also my traveling companion.
SAVINGS AND IMPACT
So, what was the impact of these two purchases? According to the app, the original value of my purchases was $30, and I paid $11. This meant a total savings of $19. In addition, the app displays information on the environmental impact, such as the CO2 equivalent of electricity saved, shower time saved, and the number of full smartphone charges saved. See the screenshot to the left for what I saw in the app after my purchases.
LEARNING CURVE
For those who are looking to try out Too Good To Go, you should note that there is a scheduled window of time to pick up your purchase. You get a code for pickup, so make sure to show the app to the store employee and ensure that the correct box is checked. When I did my first pickup, I made the mistake of just announcing my code, but I finally got the hang of it. I hope you will consider using this app to do some good in your community or in one that you visit. Not only can you do your part for the environment, you can also save money—and find some great places to eat.
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Sophia Guevara received both her M.L.I.S. and master of public
administration degrees from Wayne State University. She has also
been published in Computers in Libraries, Online Searcher, and Information Outlook. Send your comments
about this article to