10 European Startups Turning Food Waste Into Profit

Jan de Vries · 2026-06-03

European startups are rethinking what happens to food once it leaves the traditional supply chain. What was once seen mainly as waste, from surplus groceries and restaurant stock to side-streams like spent yeast, broccoli stems, and industrial by-products, is increasingly being turned into more affordable food options, alternative ingredients, animal feed, and even fertilizers. This shift is gaining momentum across the FoodTech sector, where food waste innovation has moved from a niche sustainability concern into a more mature and commercially relevant space. Established players like Too Good To Go, OLIO, or Winnow are showing how far this field has come. While Too Good To Go has become one of the best-known names in surplus food, OLIO has built a community-powered redistribution model with a million users globally. And Winnow has become a recognized player in AI-enabled food waste tracking for kitchens. Together, these companies show that the sector is moving beyond sustainability alone and becoming a practical business opportunity. Today, the market spans retail surplus, AI waste tracking, or ingredient upcycling, reflecting a broader shift in how Europe's startup ecosystem is tackling food waste. For this article, we curated a list of 10 promising startups founded between 2020 and 2026 that are challenging conventional systems to cut down on food waste. ### Turning By-Products Into Premium Ingredients **Clean Food Group** produces sustainable food ingredients designed to offer cleaner alternatives to conventional fats and oils, specifically high-impact ingredients like palm oil, cocoa butter, and milk fat. The goal is to reduce pressure on food supply chains and limit waste from inefficient production models. Its approach focuses on maintaining taste and performance while making better use of resources and reducing reliance on traditional fat and oil sources. London-based and launched in 2022, the startup has raised $15.3 million in total funding (converted from €14.3 million at a rate of 1 EUR = 1.07 USD), supporting its mission to create ingredients that are better for the environment and health.  ### Connecting Consumers With Surplus Food Founded in 2024 in Zagreb, **Crumbs** is a platform focused on reducing food waste by connecting consumers with surplus food from local restaurants and wholesalers. By helping businesses sell food that might otherwise go unsold, it supports a more efficient local food system. The startup has raised $642,000 in total funding (converted from €600k at a rate of 1 EUR = 1.07 USD), with the fresh capital set to support growth in Croatia, regional expansion, and the development of AI tools to optimize food supply chains. Its model combines affordable access to food with a practical solution for businesses managing unsold stock. ### Fungal Protein From Industrial Side Streams Headquartered in Espoo, **Enifer** produces fungi-based protein through a bioprocess. By converting dilute side streams from biorefineries into a nutritious, animal-free ingredient, the startup turns industrial by-products into a valuable protein source for food, pet food, and aquafeed producers. Launched in 2020, its approach helps reduce reliance on traditional animal and soy proteins while creating new revenue streams from materials that would otherwise be underused. Since its funding, they secured $40.6 million in total funding (converted from €37.9 million at a rate of 1 EUR = 1.07 USD). ### AI-Powered Kitchen Optimization We're particularly delighted to include **GreenBytes**, as they were the winner of the EU-Startups Summit pitch competition in 2022! This Reykjavík-based company provides an AI-powered software platform for restaurants. Founded by two sustainable energy experts with restaurant experience, GreenBytes developed its platform after identifying how difficult stock ordering can be in busy kitchens. Its tool helps kitchens optimize food ordering and reduce waste by predicting future sales using historical data, weather, and other factors. It gives restaurants automated stock tracking, ingredient suggestions, and a clearer view of what they actually need. Launched in 2020, GreenBytes has secured $1.07 million in funding (converted from €1.0 million at a rate of 1 EUR = 1.07 USD). ### The Bigger Picture These startups represent a growing trend: turning what was once considered waste into valuable resources. From AI tools that help restaurants order smarter to bioprocesses that transform industrial by-products into protein, the food waste space is becoming a serious business opportunity. What's exciting is how each company tackles a different part of the problem. Some focus on the supply chain, others on consumer behavior, and still others on industrial processes. But they all share one thing: a vision where food waste isn't an afterthought but a starting point for innovation. Here's a quick look at the startups mentioned: - **Clean Food Group** - Sustainable fats and oils from London - **Crumbs** - Surplus food marketplace from Zagreb - **Enifer** - Fungi-based protein from Espoo - **GreenBytes** - AI kitchen optimization from Reykjavík As the sector matures, expect more startups to join this list, each finding new ways to create value from leftovers. It's a shift that benefits both the planet and the bottom line.