Nearly two-thirds of Croatian citizens throw away food, with one million doing so regularly. At the same time, only 5% of citizens recognize food waste as an environmental problem. These findings from a national survey conducted in 2025 as part of the Food Is Not Waste project reveal a significant gap between everyday consumer habits and awareness of their environmental consequences.
This is precisely the gap that Dukat aims to address through its corporate social responsibility project Food Is Not Waste, which has launched a new educational online quiz, Are You Feeding Climate Change? Rather than relying on conventional information sharing, the quiz allows participants to test their knowledge of food waste, its environmental impact, and ways to adopt more sustainable habits.
The project was launched in 2023 to raise awareness about responsible food management, and the new quiz represents a continuation of its educational activities. Particular emphasis is placed on the connection between food waste and climate change, as food loss and waste account for approximately 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
“The fight against food waste requires the involvement of society as a whole. We want to show citizens that small changes in everyday habits can have a significant impact, both on reducing food waste and protecting the environment. Education, responsible consumption, and sustainable food management are key steps toward creating positive change,” said Elena Wolsperger Dolezil, Director of Corporate Communications and Sustainability at Dukat.
Educating the public is just one part of the company’s efforts to reduce food waste. Dukat has been donating food since 2015 and, according to the company, is the largest food donor in Croatia’s food industry. This ensures that products which might otherwise end up as waste are redirected to those who need them most.
An additional solution focuses on products approaching their expiration dates. Instead of being withdrawn from sale, these products are offered at reduced, dynamically adjusted prices in six Dukat discount stores. Three are located in Zagreb, with one each in Bjelovar, Slavonski Brod, and Osijek. This approach helps reduce food waste while allowing consumers to purchase products at more affordable prices.
The new quiz is available on the Food Is Not Waste project website. Participants who answer the questions correctly have the opportunity to win reusable food wraps made from organic cotton coated with beeswax, extending the project’s central idea to the prize itself: reducing waste through changes in everyday habits.
