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Sustainability Action Plan
Zero Waste
Case studies
FareShare
Britain wastes more food than any other nation with various consumer studies suggesting that we chuck away between 15 and 40% of the food that we buy. In addition to the food wasted at homes, shops and restaurants throw away vast quantities of food that they are unable to sell. FareShare is a national organisation that finds practical ways of making sure the surplus food that is fit for consumption gets eaten up.
Research by the Royal College of Physicians has shown that at least three in five homeless people have no daily intake of fresh fruit and vegetables. Many day centres and homeless people themselves simply cannot afford a regular supply of high quality fresh food. At the same time, due to stringent company policies, food retailers and wholesalers are throwing away huge amounts of good quality food. This waste frustrates many food suppliers, but they do not have the means to arrange and co-ordinate its distribution.
FareShare is the national organisation that works with over 100 food businesses to minimise food waste by providing practical solutions to help ensure that the maximum amount of 'fit for purpose' food is consumed wherever possible.
In 2007 2,000 tonnes of food was saved from being wasted, helping business reduced C02 emissions by 13,000 tonnes. This food was then redistributed, along with other food related support services, to a community food network of 400 community organisations. This food contributed to over 3.3 million meals to 20,000 disadvantaged people each day in 52 cities and towns across the UK. FareShare has depots in: Brighton, Birmingham, Bristol, Dundee, Edinburgh, London, Newcastle, South Yorkshire (Barnsley) and Sunderland.
As well as also providing 250 work and volunteers placements last year, £5 million was saved by the network of local charities, which was reinvested into the community.
For more information on FareShare and how you can help please visit www.fareshare.org.uk
This Guardian Newspaper article talks about FareShare's work and also a London Restaurant that fines diners £2.50 if they don’t finish their food in a bid to reduce food waste.