Government food waste strategy – a missed opportunity?

Government’s campaign against food waste will only have lasting benefits for the environment and food security if it is backed up by economic policies that tackle the causes of our throwaway society.

That’s the take-home message from the Food Ethics Magazine 'Waste: dishing the dirt'.

Wasting food is costly, damages the environment and, in a world where a billion people are hungry, deeply unfair. Writing in our magazine, experts in waste management and redistribution, recycling and redesign analyse the problems associated with food waste, and offer creative and workable solutions.

They find that:

• Every household in the UK wastes between £250 and £400
• Avoidable waste of cereal-based food in the UK and USA could lift 224 million people out of hunger
• Around 7 million tonnes of food ends up in landfill in the UK every year
• Producing and distributing edible food that goes to waste accounts for around 5% of all UK GHG emissions
• An estimated £858 million could be saved a year by no- or low-cost efficiencies in waste reduction in UK food and drink manufacturing.

Tom MacMillan, executive director of the Food Ethics Council says:

“Food waste is harmful and unfair, and it is essential to stop food going into landfill.

But the irony is that consumption growth and persistent inequalities look set to undo the good that cutting food waste does in reducing our overall use of natural resources and improving food security.

Now is the moment all parties should be searching out ways to define prosperity that get away from runaway consumption. Until they succeed, chucking out less food won’t make our lifestyles more sustainable.”

Contributors to the magazine include Charlotte Henderson from WRAP (the Waste & Resources Action Programme) on working with retailers and manufacturers, Tony Lowe from FareShare on food redistribution, Tristram Stuart, author of ‘Waste: uncovering the global food scandal’, on the links between the food we waste and global hunger, and the British Retail Consortium’s Andrew Opie on sell-by labels.

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For a PDF copy of the magazine, or to speak to the Food Ethics Council, please contact Liz Barling on 01273 766 654 or liz@foodethicscouncil.org

Notes to editors

1. The Food Ethics Council works towards a food system that is fair and healthy for people and the environment.

2. Food Ethics magazine is issued quarterly, delivering up to date analysis on topical subjects relevant to food and farming. Attracting top quality contributors, it is essential reading for those involved in food businesses, government policy or campaigning organisations, journalists and anybody interested in the food system.

3. Previous magazines have highlighted issues surrounding GM food, meat and livestock, workers’ rights, the catering and food retail industries, and the food crisis.