Turin's RePoPP food-recovery project receives European award

Turin's RePoPP project has received the 2026 Local Sustainability Award, promoted by ICLEI Europe together with the European Committee of the Regions and the City of Aalborg. Presented in Brussels on October 13, the award recognises an operating model active in the city's markets since 2016.

According to figures published by the City of Turin and ICLEI, the project recovered more than 220 tonnes of edible food in 2025, reached approximately 5,000 people each month and contributed to around 30,000 meals. These are different indicators and should not be added together or treated as equivalent.

Recovery begins when the market closes

The project's Waste Sentinels collect unsold food that is still suitable for consumption from market traders and direct it towards redistribution. Non-edible organic material follows a separate stream. Refugees and asylum seekers also take an active role in operations and engagement within the market.

RePoPP's strength lies not in a single gesture but in continuity: people, agreements, logistics and measurement have to work every day. The lesson can also apply to canteens, events and companies — identify where surplus arises, involve a capable recovery network and measure what is actually redistributed.

Sources: City of Turin / TorinoClick and ICLEI Europe

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