Food & Drink
Food sharing milestone
Historic moment for food sharing app Olio as it celebrates 100 million meals rescued.
14 December 2024
This article first appeared in our Earth Day 2025 issue of My Green Pod Magazine, published 22 April. Click here to subscribe to our digital edition and get each issue delivered straight to your inbox
If you still haven’t heard of Olio, you’re missing a trick.
The app allows you to give away unwanted items without leaving the comfort of your own home, find free and discounted food, discover local deals and events and even volunteer to support your community.
It’s the UK’s most trusted neighbourhood app for finding what you need and sharing what you don’t.
The app also helps you to make meaningful connections within your neighbourhood, shop closer to home, save money and lead a more sustainable lifestyle. What’s not to love?
Millions of items are being shared on Olio every month. Here are six ways that joining the Olio community could help you live a greener lifestyle – on Earth Day and beyond.
Find the tent you need for an upcoming camping trip – or replace a toaster that broke last week – by browsing the free non-food section.
You can declutter and share your pre-loved things without even leaving the house – and say goodbye to queues at the Post Office!
From furniture you no longer need to clothes your little one has outgrown, you can earn extra cash, clear your space and save things from landfill in the process.
Remember, what’s useless to you could be exactly what someone down the road has been looking for! Just list items – free or for sale – on Olio to rehome your belongings with zero hassle.
In need of a lawnmower for an afternoon? Got an air mattress that you’re happy to loan out? Or simply want to borrow a pasta maker to take your culinary skills to the next level?
Lending and borrowing on Olio is a great way for you and your neighbours to make the most of the items you already own.
Don’t buy something you’re only going to use once in a while – borrow it on Olio and help fight over-consumption at the same time.
With Olio, you can find out what’s going on in your local area and spread the word about events you’re organising or care about.
Be the first to hear about a car boot sale that’s taking place down the road or let people know about a book club you’re organising – it’s all part of bringing local communities together to create a happier, more sustainable future.
You can save money with Olio by finding free and discounted items near you. Request free food on the app – from neighbours or local stores like Tesco, Sainsbury’s or Holland & Barrett – and then collect it from volunteers, known as Food Waste Heroes.
Alternatively, you can browse the Reduced feed in the app to see supermarket reductions happening in real time, and be the first to get your hands on nearby bargains.
This way you can use Olio to plan your trip to the shops knowing what’s already on offer – helping you to save time and money in the process.
You can be a hero and give back to your community. Get involved in the fight against food waste by volunteering as a Food Waste Hero with Olio!
Volunteers collect unsold food from local businesses (from supermarkets to schools, offices and coffee shops) and share it with people nearby via the app.
You can volunteer as little or as often as you like – lots of people sign up for a one-off slot to see what it’s like before committing to anything. Plus, volunteers can keep 10% of what they collect for themselves.
Historic moment for food sharing app Olio as it celebrates 100 million meals rescued.
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