Sainsbury’s £1 Million Funding to Fight Food Waste

09 Nov 2016 --- Sainsbury’s is ramping up its fight against food waste by unveiling significant funding for British towns and cities to drastically cut the amount of food that gets dumped across UK households.

Regions can apply to the retailer’s program and pitch concepts to a Dragon’s Den style panel which will approve additional funding for outstanding ideas.

Sainsbury’s £1 million (US$12.4 million) investment is the second phase of its Waste Less, Save More strategy, designed to reduce food waste which was first launched in 2015 and currently has more than 110 towns and cities already signed up.

The retailer estimates UK households throw away seven million tons of food, valued at £12.5 billion (US$15.5 billion) per year. The English town of Swadlincote was used as a test-bed for activity, with Sainsbury’s trialing a wide range of new initiatives across a one year period and now other areas can replicate the lessons learned in the pilot. Sainsbury’s will guide communities to model the concepts used in Swadlincote through free or low-investment solutions like operating schools programs and introducing new technology to households.

This includes the Olio app which encourages food sharing amongst neighbors, the ‘Fab Foods’ program which has been designed to engage local schools, and households testing other innovative technology like smart fridges.

Communities, who can now register their interest in joining the program, can select what methods they want to follow as well as go before the panel to seek further financial support.

“This marks a significant milestone in our Waste less, Save more program as we broaden out our focus from a single trial town to sharing our learnings with communities up and down the UK. With well over 100 communities already signed up, the response so far has been overwhelming and really highlights that the nation is waking up to food waste. Not only will a reduction have a huge environmental impact but, with families throwing away £700 a year on uneaten food, it will help put more money back in the pocket of British people too,” says Paul Crewe, head of sustainability, property, engineering and environment for Sainsbury’s.

“WRAP’s research has shown the scale of food waste in the UK, and we know that action is needed – for people, our pockets and the planet. I’m delighted to see initiatives from Sainsbury’s shine a light on the issue of food waste, and we look forward to working together and supporting them every step of the way,” adds David Rogers from WRAP.