Leftover food? Give it a second life via Food Circle Amsterdam!

Subject: Collaboration with Voedsel Cirkel Amsterdam via Business Involved: Invest in a Sustainable and Social Amsterdam

Dear Mr./Ms. [Name of Contact Person/CSR Department],

On behalf of Voedsel Cirkel Amsterdam (VCA) we are reaching out to you through the valuable network of Business Involved of the Municipality of Amsterdam with a concrete and impactful request for help. We believe that your company, just like ours, wants to play a role in creating a more resilient, sustainable and social Amsterdam.

The Challenge: Food Waste and Food Insecurity in Amsterdam

Every day, a significant amount of good and usable food is lost in our prosperous city. This can range from surpluses in the hospitality industry and retail to unsold products at wholesalers and events. At the same time, a significant portion of our fellow citizens live in food insecurity, with all the negative consequences for their health, well-being and participation in society.

Our Mission: Food Connects, Waste Reduces, Poverty Alleviates

Voedsel Cirkel Amsterdam is a growing and dynamic food platform that is committed to tackling these two challenges simultaneously in an innovative way. We function as a logistical "common" that efficiently collects surplus food from companies and redistributes it to a growing network of currently 20 local neighborhood initiatives in Amsterdam. These initiatives, often run by volunteers, provide vulnerable Amsterdammers with food parcels and meals.

Our Help Request to Your Company via Business Involved: Become a Care-Free Partner

We are convinced that your company can play a crucial role in realizing our mission. Through a partnership with Voedsel Cirkel Amsterdam, you can contribute in a concrete and simple way to reducing food waste and supporting Amsterdammers who live in food insecurity. We ask your company to become a structural partner in "unburdening" your food supplies that would otherwise be thrown away or not used.

What does this partnership entail in concrete terms?

• Regular Donation of Surplus Food: We ask you to set up a system where your company donates surplus food that is still of good quality to Voedsel Cirkel Amsterdam on a regular basis (e.g. daily, weekly). This can range from fresh produce, bread and pastries, dairy, to packaged durable products.
• Logistical Relief: Voedsel Cirkel Amsterdam takes care of the entire logistics of the food collection. Our team of volunteers and our means of transport (including electric cargo bikes and a van) ensure reliable and efficient collection of the donations at the times you specify. We ensure that the food flows meet the applicable hygiene and safety standards.
• Transparent Impact Reporting: We offer you insight into the impact of your donations. You will receive periodic reports on the amount of food saved and the number of households that have been supported thanks to your contribution through our network of neighborhood initiatives. This allows you to gain insight into the concrete social value of your involvement.
• Positive PR and Social Profiling: Your partnership with Voedsel Cirkel Amsterdam contributes to a positive profile of your company as a socially involved and sustainable organization within the Amsterdam community. We will communicate your contribution, in consultation, via our own channels and in contacts with the press.
• Employee Engagement Opportunity: We offer your employees the opportunity to directly contribute to the mission of Voedsel Cirkel Amsterdam through volunteer work or other activities, which can strengthen the involvement and morale within your organization.

Why this is a valuable investment for your business:

• Concrete Contribution to Social Goals: You make a direct and measurable contribution to reducing food waste and combating food insecurity in Amsterdam.
• Strengthening your CSR policy: Your partnership fits seamlessly with your Corporate Social Responsibility and sustainability objectives.
• Positive Image and Reputation Enhancement: You demonstrate your commitment to the local community and contribute to a positive image of your company.
• Potential Cost Savings: In some cases, donating surplus food can reduce your waste costs.
• Employee Engagement: Offer your employees a concrete opportunity to get involved with a good cause.

We are convinced that a structural collaboration between your company and Voedsel Cirkel Amsterdam, facilitated by the Business Involved network, creates a win-win situation. Together we can realize a significant impact in reducing food waste and providing essential support to Amsterdammers in need.

We would like to invite you for a no-obligation meeting to discuss the possibilities of a partnership and to discover how we can give concrete form to this collaboration, in line with the nature and size of your company.

We look forward to hearing from you and perhaps welcoming your company as a valuable partner of Voedsel Cirkel Amsterdam in our quest for a more sustainable and social Amsterdam.

Yours sincerely,

On behalf of the team of Food Circle Amsterdam,