Industry aims to boost food waste redistribution

The group – which includes food retailers, manufacturers, wholesalers and charities – met last week (January 24) to assess possible solutions that could boost food redistribution in order to develop a plan of action.

The group will also work to assess the extent of food waste distribution currently taking place in the UK.

Andy Dawe, head of food and drink at the Waste & Resources Action Programme, is the chair of the working group, which includes ASDA, Boots, the British Retail Consortium and Kelloggs among its members.

Mr Dawe said: Preventing waste arising not only saves money in tough economic times but also provides environmental savings. Where there is a surplus of food it is important to make sure its being used in the best possible way.

The cost of food is rising, and this means that some of the most vulnerable groups in society sometimes struggle to afford food. Increasing food redistribution will help the poorest in society and prevent perfectly good food from going to waste, along with all that went into making it.

By tackling this with key players across the supply chain we can collectively discover what works and what doesnt to find the best solutions that we hope will lead to increased redistribution.

Progress

The group is set to report on its progress later this year.

Welcoming the news, recycling minister Lord de Mauley said: Preventing food waste protects the environment and makes good business sense. Surplus food is an inevitable part of a secure supply chain and this is an excellent means of putting it to good use. I welcome the launch of this working group and look forward to hearing of its progress later this year.

Food waste redistribution was among the issues looked at by Lord de Mauleys predecessor Lord Taylor, who met with representatives of charities including Fareshare and Foodcycle, as well as the retail sector to seek to boost the practice in the UK.

In an interview with letsrecycle.com conducted in July 2012 (see letsrecycle.com story), Lord Taylor commented that there was huge potential to reduce food waste by increasing redistribution to charitable causes.