FOOD BANKING AS A RESPONSIBLE CONSUMPTION MECHANISM IN THE SHARING ECONOMY

Abstract

The article is devoted to the study of various aspects of food banking: socio-economic, legal, ecological. The definition and classification of food banking are given. The problem of food banking development is considered in the context of combating food losses and spoilage. Along the entire path of movement of products from production to the final consumer, this struggle is one of the global economic challenges of our time developing sustainable development. The environmental damage caused by waste and its disposal is manifested as a negative economic effect. This problem requires an immediate solution. Based on the principles of rational, responsible consumption, the sharing economy is one of the mechanisms for solving food waste and wastage, contributes to reducing environmental risks, the level of poverty, and the elimination of hunger. In the article, food banking is considered a system for redistributing food surpluses to reduce food losses and spoilage and provide food to socially unprotected segments of the population in a shared economy. The experience of food sharing practice in foreign countries has shown its effectiveness in solving the problems of providing affordable food to socially unprotected segments of the population and combating food losses and spoilage. In Russia, food banking is gaining popularity, but the lack of the necessary infrastructure and regulatory barriers hinder its development. The priority of legal regulation of food banking should be the quality and safety of the distributed food. Simultaneously, the study showed that the restrictions imposed by the state to products with an expiring but not expired shelf life and sanctioned goods are excessive in conditions of lack of food supply for certain socially unprotected segments of the population.