14 DAY TRIAL // A Frenchman by the name Baptiste Dubanchet has taken it upon himself to protest and raise awareness about food waste in Europe by eating nothing but garbage while traveling from Paris, France, to Warsaw, Poland.
To put things into perspective, it need be said that the distance that Baptiste Dubanchet must cover in order to reach his destination is one of about 3,000 miles (approximately 4,828 kilometers).
When also taking into account the fact that the daredevil plans to complete this epic journey with the help of his trusty bicycle alone, there is little doubt that the garbage he has set its eyes on must be very nutritious.
Hence the fact that, having begun his cycling trip back in April 15, Baptiste Dubanchet has until now managed to go through Luxembourg, Belgium, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, and Germany without starving.
According to The Local, the Frenchman relies on a couch surfing website to find accommodation in the cities that he journeys through. Shortly after arriving in one urban area or another, he tracks down local stores and restaurants.
Every once in a while, staff at these stores and restaurants agree to give him something to eat. However, Baptiste Dubanchet says that, most of the times, he is left with no choice but to go dumpster diving in search for food.
This is despite the fact that the cycling enthusiast and food waste protester always carries a sign detailing what his La Faim du Monde (World Hunger) project is all about, the Frenchman told the press in an interview.
“I have to find food fast because after all the cycling I am tired and I need the energy. Is my stomach full or empty? That is the most important thing, not what I am eating,” Baptiste Dubanchet explained in a statement.
“Even when you know about it, it’s still surprising to open a garbage can and find so many potatoes, so much fruit, yogurt, sometimes 500 liter or 1000-liter bins are filled with things that are still good enough to eat,” he added.
As it was to be expected, it appears that folks in different countries have rather contradictory reactions to this Frenchman's going around asking for leftovers from stores and restaurants and browsing through trash bins when not given any.
“The Czech Republic was the hardest, people just didn’t understand the concept. They associate taking trash with homeless people. Finally, I was given a lot of leftover bread from a bakery which I made last for five days,” Baptiste Dubanchet said.
The Frenchman expects that, should things go according to plan, he will reach the city of Warsaw in Poland in about two weeks' time. Hopefully, the news of his journey will spread, and Baptiste Dubanchet will achieve his goal to raise awareness about food waste.