Apple podcast | Spotify

Who Knew Your Leftovers Could Get You New Friends & Save the Planet

My guest this week is Saasha Celestial-One is the co-founder of Olio the waste-sharing app, whose mission is to create a waste-free world. The problem is that our culture of overconsumption is hurting us, and the planet. 33% of food globally is wasted. 50% of the clothes in our wardrobes never worn & 65% of greenhouse gases are caused by household consumption.

In the olden days people lived in smaller communities, in which everyone knew everyone else. If someone was sick, you’d take them round some soup. If you had excess vegetables from your garden you’d leave them at your garden gate. Fruit growing on trees was a free for all. You’d share because you cared. It was what communities did.

Our culture of overconsumption has far-reaching consequences. It's a vicious cycle where excessive demand leads to overproduction, which in turn results in an alarming depletion of natural resources, a rise in greenhouse gas emissions, and a substantial increase in waste that ends up in landfills, oceans, and other parts of the natural world. This not only causes irreversible damage to ecosystems but also exacerbates climate change, which leads to more severe weather events, food shortages, and a host of health problems due to pollution and declining air quality.

Despite the comfort and convenience our "stuff" provides, the long-term costs are becoming increasingly impossible to ignore. But by caring and taking action, we are not just preserving the planet for our children and grandchildren, we are also building a more equitable world where resources are used more wisely and distributed more fairly. It’s wrong that we have families going hungry here. If we have more than we need why not redistribute it? The choice to care is a necessary stance for our collective survival and well-being. Olio's solution is to help us share more & waste less.

This innovative platform aims to connect neighbours to exchange surplus food and household items, fostering a community of sharing and sustainability. With a third of all food produced globally goes to waste, contributing significantly to greenhouse gas emissions, Olio challenges this norm by facilitating the sharing of excess goods, thus ensuring that items like food and clothing are used to their fullest potential rather than contributing to landfill mass. 

Saasha’s journey to co-founding Olio is as unique as the app itself. Growing up in a non-traditional, frugal household where waste was frowned upon, she internalised early on the importance of resourcefulness. This ethos, combined with her professional experience in the corporate sector, has informed her approach to building a business that is both economically viable and environmentally conscious.

Olio addresses the urgent issue of climate change by reducing waste, but it also provides practical solutions to everyday problems like food insecurity, especially during a cost-of-living crisis. By redistributing surplus food, Olio not only prevents wastage but also helps those who cannot afford healthy meals. The app thus emerges as a tool for social good, creating communities where sharing becomes the norm, and every item is valued.

Olio's vision extends beyond just food sharing. The broader goal is to disrupt the current linear consumption model and replace it with a circular one, where the life cycle of products is extended through sharing, reusing, and recycling. This is how Olio aims to help create a world where nothing of value goes to waste.

The story of Olio is not just about an app; it's about changing mindsets and encouraging a more mindful way of living. It is about individual acts of courage—choosing to share rather than discard, to be part of a solution rather than the problem. Saasha and her co-founder Tessa Clarke exemplify this courage, demonstrating that small, thoughtful actions can lead to significant, transformative change.

Olio is more than an app; it's a movement, a call to action for everyone to contribute to a waste-free world. It embodies the belief that in sharing, we find not only a solution to environmental issues but also a way to strengthen community bonds and support each other. In this, Olio offers a blueprint for a sustainable future, one that is as much about reducing emissions as it is about fostering human connections and resilience. It’s not hard. You have surplus food, you go on the app, and someone who needs it will come and pick it up. You reduce waste and you support your local community.

Actionable steps to reducing food waste

Download and Use the App: Begin by downloading the Olio app. This is your gateway to connecting with neighbours and local businesses to give away or collect surplus food and household items. 

Become a Food Safety Volunteer: Take a food safety course through Olio to become a volunteer. This allows you to collect unsold food from businesses and distribute it within your community. 

Conduct a Household Audit: Regularly check your pantry, fridge, and closets for items you don’t need. If you find non-perishable food or clothes in good condition that you won’t use, list them on Olio. 

Connect with Local Businesses: Engage with local businesses and inform them about Olio. Encourage them to become partners in the initiative to reduce waste by sharing their surplus with the community. 

Organize a Community Sharing Event: Host an event in your neighborhood where people can bring items they want to give away. Use Olio to manage the listings and make sure items find new homes.

Educate on Food Waste: Raise awareness about food waste and its environmental impact. Share tips on social media, or host workshops on how to reduce waste at home, using Olio as a practical tool for change.

Start a Community Garden: If space allows, start a community garden. Surplus produce can be shared through Olio, fostering community spirit and providing fresh produce to those who need it.

Implement a Zero-Waste Policy: Aim to adopt a zero-waste lifestyle at home and work. Use Olio to find new homes for items you would otherwise discard. 

Volunteer for Collection and Distribution: Regularly volunteer to collect and distribute items listed on Olio. This can help those without the means to transport goods themselves. 

Promote the Sharing Economy: Advocate for the sharing economy in your local community. Highlight the benefits of apps like Olio in saving money, reducing waste, and building stronger community ties.

Dare to share your surplus because for someone else that might well be supper.

PS. Listen HERE to Saasha'’s journey on BRAVE NEW GIRLS podcast to hear how she helps us help the planet.