Steve Butterworth, CEO of community engagement and investment platform Neighbourly, says combating food waste is a ‘win-win’ as he reveals Neighbourly’s corporate partners have saved a total of nearly 50 million meals from going to waste since 2015.
In the UK alone, 9.5 million tonnes of food are wasted every year. With 8.4 million people in the UK right now struggling to afford to eat, that food waste figure is particularly alarming. In addition to the illogical disconnect between people going hungry at the same time as food being wasted, food waste also contributes up to 10% of man-made greenhouse gases.
To support people in need, reduce negative climate impact and respect our planet’s resources, retailers, manufacturers and food businesses must lead the fight against food waste.
One vital part of the solution is to divert unavoidable food surplus to people in need. Tackling food waste, through redistribution of edible surplus to charitable causes, results in an immediate saving on carbon emissions, while making a positive contribution to local communities.
To support people in need, reduce negative climate impact and respect our planet’s resources, retailers, manufacturers and food businesses must lead the fight against food waste.
Working with local organisations and good causes, businesses can redistribute surplus product to get it where it’s most needed, including homeless centres, schools and breakfast clubs, community fridges and foodbanks.
Combatting food waste through surplus redistribution is a significant contributor to helping food businesses achieve their ESG (environmental, social, and governance) objectives.
Dramatic shift
The last few years have seen a dramatic shift in attitude towards business’s having a positive impact beyond making a profit, with consumers, investors, partners, policymakers and procurement teams alike placing more emphasis on the importance of a business’ commitments to ESG issues.
This has been evidenced in ESG-related investing rising by 68% since 2014, and been reflected in consumer behaviour, with recent Neighbourly research showing that 69% of consumers are more likely to trust a company that contributes to the community where they live or work. In short, food redistribution can lead to businesses seeing an increase in consumer trust while improving the bottom line.
This week marks the UK’s first ever Food Waste Action Week, bringing together retailers, local authorities, restaurants, manufacturers and beyond to highlight the link between food waste and the climate crisis.
These businesses have saved a combined total of 76,000 tonnes of CO2. This goes to show the incredible impact that can be achieved through collaborative action against food waste.
As the UK prepares to host COP26, and all eyes are on the climate agenda, collective action by consumers, businesses and government alike is needed to tackle food waste and the resulting CO2 emissions if we are to meet our net zero targets.
Considering the ongoing impacts of the pandemic on communities, and the environmental challenges posed by the climate crisis, Food Waste Action Week comes at a critical time.
Many of the leading supermarkets have already made significant progress on managing food waste and reducing emissions. Working together, Neighbourly’s corporate partners have saved a total of nearly 50 million meals from going to waste since 2015.
As a result, these businesses have saved a combined total of 76,000 tonnes of CO2. This goes to show the incredible impact that can be achieved through collaborative action against food waste.
Product surplus redistribution is one vital route to tackle food waste, reducing CO2 emissions while supporting our local communities and saving lives. As our communities continue to struggle with increased levels of food insecurity, compounded by the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, businesses must seize the moment on food waste to make a real difference for people and planet.