Between law and practice: Navigating legal pluralisms in food waste donation and redistribution in Germany and the UK

Science and policy have increasingly spotlighted the socio-economic and environmental issues associated with food waste, emphasizing the need for its reduction. Although normative frameworks like the waste hierarchy have been established, e.g. at the EU level, fragmented regulatory landscapes regarding surplus food persist. This study examines how stakeholders in the UK and Germany navigate the legal challenges of food waste donation and redistribution. By applying a legal geographies lens, we analyse empirical data from 19 semi-structured interviews with civil society initiative representatives, volunteers, and retailers, conducted in 2017–18 and 2024, as well as UK, EU, and German legislation and policy. Our findings highlight the complicating legal pluralisms, interlegalities, and (in)formal aspects of food waste regulation across time and space. In light of crises such as Brexit and COVID-19, the analysis exposes how legislation inadequately addresses barriers like liability concerns, financial incentives, and operational challenges. It reveals gaps and legal grey zones in British, German, and EU governance, where food donation occurs under ambiguous conditions. By exploring how different actors perceive, interpret, and navigate these circumstances, the study addresses associated moral dilemmas, risks, and unofficial consensuses. Our research offers actionable insights for food-saving actors and policymakers, aiming to bridge the gap between legal intent and practice, foster sustainable food systems, and promote edible food saving on the path towards achieving zero waste.