Amsterdam wastes about 166 kilotonnes of food per year, of which 32 kilotonnes come from hospitality and 49 from households. The MKBA by New Economy uses this to show the local scale of waste. The figures point to where redistribution can do the most. Without a calculation, the social value of informal food initiatives stays invisible, while the cost of inaction keeps rising.
A social cost-benefit analysis values the network’s benefits against public spending and avoidable social costs. This is relevant for municipalities, city districts and organisations working on food security, poverty and public health.