UK-based food redistribution charity FareShare has launched a new eight-step Food Efficiency Framework to help food businesses ‘increase resource efficiency, reduce food waste and take proactive steps to support people experiencing food poverty’.
Created with input and advice from the Food and Drink Federation (FDF), an industry body tasked with representing the UK food and drink industry, the framework comprises three main areas: prepare; share; and benefit, and builds on ‘existing best practice within the UK and globally’ to help businesses prepare and plan for potential food surpluses arising during operations, so that any surplus food can be made available for charity redistribution.
It was officially launched today (17 June) at the organisation’s Surplus Food Summit in London.
Director of Food @Mark_Varney launches the FareShare Food Efficiency Framework - Prepare, Share, Benefit pic.twitter.com/KkZ7YevLgk
— FareShare (@FareShareUK) June 17, 2015
According to FareShare, the Surplus Food Summit – purported to be the first of its kind in the UK – aims to ‘facilitate the sharing of best practice by food and retail businesses’.
It is supported by FDF, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and the Fresh Produce Consortium (FPC) and features a range of speakers from FareShare partner companies such as ASDA, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Nestle, and Kellogg’s.
Preventing food waste ‘key priority’ for manufacturers
Speaking earlier today, FareShare’s CEO Lindsay Boswell commented: “Today is about the industry coming together and making the commitment that no good food should be wasted. There are immense social, environmental and economical benefits to be reaped. We all have a part to play in ensuring that good food is used for its purpose and is redistributed to charities to help those people who need it the most.”
FDF Director General Ian Wright added: “Preventing food waste is a key priority for food and drink manufacturers, enshrined in our environmental strategy. Where surpluses cannot be avoided, redirecting food to feed people should be a first consideration.”
Charity reports increase in surplus food donations
FareShare recently reported that donations totaled 7,360 tonnes over the past year, a 33 per cent increase on the previous year’s figures.
The surplus food was reputedly distributed to 1,923 charities and community projects in the UK where it was made into 15.3 million meals.
According to FareShare’s estimates, there is enough surplus food available in the UK to make 800 million meals and it is thus ‘seeking continued support from the industry to ensure more is diverted to feed vulnerable people in need’.
Find out more about FareShare.
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