Food industry unites in campaign to cut household food waste

In partnership with WRAP, IGD will use the campaign to drive the awareness and engagement among around 650,000 employees across 107 companies, encouraging them to take what they have learnt beyond the workplace into households.

During the month of October, a mixture of food waste training and employee engagement will see:

• Around 600,000 employees receiving ‘Top Tips’ on reducing household food waste 
• 12,000+ employees involved in ‘Leftover Lunch Day’ 
• 180,000 employees being provided with access to Love Food Hate Waste meal planners 
• 100,000 using WRAP’s food waste diaries 
• 280,000 participating in the leftovers recipe challenge 

IGD chief executive Joanne Denney-Finch said: “A lot of progress has been made already by companies across the industry to help consumers reduce household food waste. However, 7m tonnes of food and drink is still being thrown away by UK homes every year, costing consumers £12.5bn – so there’s more work to be done. As an industry, we employ 3.6m people and it is these employees who will form the bedrock of our campaign, taking learnings from their company into their households.

“In its first year, from the 107 companies that have pledged their support so far, ‘Working on Waste’ will reach around 650,000 employees in one month through meal planning advice, top tips, what to do with leftovers and much more. And if we can inspire each of these employees to inform their friends and family on how to reduce food waste, the campaign’s impact will be felt far beyond this number.”

On the road

IGD will also host nine roundtable roadshows across the country to bring companies, suppliers and competitors together to discuss the issues surrounding household food waste.

Denney-Finch added: “I’m thrilled that companies of all sizes are supporting this campaign, demonstrating how serious they are about tackling food waste in homes. Through this scale, collaboration and power of our industry, we have the potential to make a substantial impact collectively in reducing household food waste in the UK.”

The campaign is also being supported by other organisations such as universities and trade associations.

Lois Vallely