DRARA
Environment Action Group
Green Flash No. 40
June 2013
Food waste: waste not, want not
Some ideas for the home
Some ideas to put to your supermarket
Last month one of the big supermarkets pledged to reduce food waste as part of their corporate
responsibility report. Earlier this year the Institute of Mechanical Engineers published a report,
'Global Food Waste not want not' with the disturbing figure that we produce about four billion
metric tonnes of food per annum (in the world). Yet due to poor practices in harvesting, storage
and transportation, as well as market and consumer wastage it is estimated that 30-50% all food
never reaches a human stomach.
In the UK according to the government's Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP), the
average family wastes nearly £700 of unused food every year.
WRAP is working with the grocery industry to make changes and ensure that it is easier for
consumers to buy the right amounts e.g. offering a range of sizes, keep what is bought at its best
by giving clear storage and freezing guidance and instructions and getting the most out of what
is bought by using consistent clear date marking.
In the home here are a few ideas to consider.
Some ideas for the home
1. Declare one dinner a 'use up' meal - you can use the Internet to put the list of ingredients you
have, to find a recipe.
2. Store more in the fridge - fruit and vegetables stored in the fridge often last longer.
3. Freeze leftovers - these can be frozen in the quantities that you will use them in at a future
date.
4. Shop more often - the large shop can always be supplemented by smaller shops for those
items that a more perishable and taking a list will mean less impulse buys.
5. Rethink quantities and buy less - loose fruit and vegetables, where you can buy exactly what
you need is often cheaper than the pre-packaged.
6. Read the label - particularly for storage conditions, but it is also worth checking if it's 'Use by'
or only the more subjective 'Best before' or even the 'Display until' date.
7. Avoid buying large quantities for specific recipes - recipes with large unusual ingredients are
the worst offenders.
8. Analyse what you are wasting - take a time period, let's say a week, and make a list of the
things that you are throwing away. You can then take appropriate action based on the results.
9. Keep tidy cupboards and fridges - first in first out is a good rule of thumb, checking dates on
items where you have more than one, and putting part used food in a place where it can be seen
and then used in time.
Some ideas for your supermarket
Many shops have a comments book or there are chances to voice your feelings via email so you
may like to suggest the following:
1. End the BOGOF (Buy one get one free) - whilst retailers are not convinced this wastes a great
deal of food there is pressure on them to end this for perishable goods - ASDA has done
so. Some supermarkets, say buy one, get one free - next week. Therefore keeping loyalty and
reducing waste.
2. Make sure your local store is supporting the national charity 'FairShare' and are promoting the
message that ‘No Good Food Should Be Wasted’ / and the local Food bank who will take away
food that can be used and distribute it to local charities.’
3. Get your shop to sell more ‘wonky’ fruit and vegetables. An estimated 20 to 40% of UK fruit
and vegetables are rejected even before they reach the shops – mostly because they do not
match the excessively strict cosmetic standards.
A reminder if you do have food waste!
The City Council offers all households a weekly food waste recycling service collecting it on the
normal waste collection day. The caddy which is provided can be lined with newspaper rather
than buying the special bags.
Uncooked vegetable matter such as peelings, are however best put in a compost maker, if you
have one. For information on home composting
http://apps.rhs.org.uk/advicesearch/Profile.aspx?pid=444.
Some useful weblinks
http://www.imeche.org/knowledge/themes/environment/global-food The Institute of
Mechanical Engineers report
http://www.wrap.org.uk/content/solutions-around-household-food-waste WRAP's website has
guidance leaflets on how to read labels, and how to freeze food.
http://www.oxfordshirewaste.gov.uk/wps/wcm/connect/occ/OWP/Home/Reduce+and+reuse/Lov
e+food+hate+waste/ The Oxfordshire Waste Partnership campaign.
http://www.oxford.gov.uk/PageRender/decER/Foodwasterecycling.htm Oxford City Council food
waste recycling.
http://www.fareshare.org.uk/ The FairShare national charity
http://www.oxfordfoodbank.co.uk/ The Oxford Food Bank where you can find out about the
Food Bank and volunteer to help.
The DRARA Environment Action Group aims to support practical ways of
reducing energy use and promote environmentally friendly lifestyles. For
further information about the Environment Action Group, please
contact: George at georgewormaldatgmail.com