Project Description

N o W a s t e C o o k i n g

The art of eating up!

Andrea Hvistendahl: Artist, Chef & Project Manager


"No Waste Cooking" is an action and installation. Shown at the artist-run gallery Studio44 in Stockholm as part of the group exhibition WIP "Work In Progress" 12-29 November 2009, and part of the "European week for waste reduction" 21-29 November. www.minskaavfallet.se


Food chain accounts for one quarter of our total carbon footprint. Swedish households throw 900 000 tonnes of food per year. Carbon dioxide levels equivalent to the annual emissions of approximately 700 000 Swedish medium cars. 57% of the food thrown away is unnecessarily food waste!


"No Waste Cooking" is an ongoing process where the materials used are "future garbage" collected regularly in collaboration with some grocery stores. Fully edible fresh food, which can no longer be sold in stores are prepared live in the gallery into tasty climate art dishes and are served free of charge to the art visitors. Energy is generated in the bodies instead of waste and carbon emissions. Even the packaging material will be used in the production of art objects.


Food is a popular subject all over the world. Despite reports of mountains of food and the organic and more locally produced food is becoming more popular, the holistic view on food is easily lost. Is it a waste of recourses to be able to choose between 10 similar products in the shop? Do we bear ancient instincts to stock up food? Have we stopped using our senses and blindly go with the ”final date” recommendations on groceries? Is the fear to eat old food -developed by authorities and the industry- justified in relation to the impact it has on the climate?


"No Waste Cooking"s aim is to create a debate and be a part of changing the way we think about food and our lifestyle. The project is not just about sustainable development but wants to reverse negative processes into something constructive, physically, mentally and with a good taste. The madness of throwing food has been a topical in the media for some time. "No Waste Cooking” presents the issue in a tangible way and speaks directly to our senses.


No waste Cooking (Karin Sundström & Andrea Hvistendahl) organized the panel discussion: Food & Climate the 25th of November. The researchers Carl Yngfalk and Björn Frostell where invited to sort things out in terms of ”final date” recommendations on groceries and the carbon footprint of food and our total lifestyle. The project supports the environmental movement "Cradle to Cradle". Magnus Hedenmark presented their concept and participated in the discussion with future perspectives.


There is not an m2 on the whole planet that is not affected by us humans. We know that "we become what we eat". The earth feeds us in the same sense with what we put into it; cyclic.


”Stadsmissionen” (for homeless) also received food from the project. Many thanks to: Karin Sundstrom, ICA Supermarket Folkum, Mosebacke, ICA near Hornsgatan & Cajsa Warg, Compost Center, Stellata environmental packaging, etc.


Good deed tastes good!