Olio

Description

Olio a free app to reduce household and food waste by fostering a hyper-local sharing economy. People can list unwanted but usable items, including surplus food, as well as clothes, books, and furniture. Neighbors can browse listings and arrange free pickup, giving unwanted items a second life and saving it from landfills. This approach combats waste, promotes sustainability, and fosters a sense of community by encouraging people to share and connect with those around them. Because it diverts far more greenhouse gasses across the 49 countries it operates in than it produces, Olio is a carbon-negative company.

What Makes it Regenerative?

• enables access & participation
• enables circularity
• fosters community
• facilitates coordination & consensus
• supports human well being
• helps inspire
• helps localize
• creates network effects

Business Model

Olio's business model is includes a paid B2B model "Food Waste Heroes Program" in which businesses like supermarkets and cafes pay Olio a fee to collect surplus food to tackle food waste and meet sustainability goals. It also offers a free basic service for individuals to share items, a premium tier with a monthly subscription fee with less ads and more features.

Risks & Limitations

• Food safety risk of users picking up spoiled food
• User trust and verification
• Limited reach and scalability due to reliance on users in a particular region
• Food waste complexity in redistribution.