Waste reduction organisation WRAP has announced plans for a new week of action in March 2021 to wake the nation up to the environmental consequences of wasting food.
The inaugural Food Waste Action Week will run from Monday 1st to Sunday 7th March 2021, bringing together organisations from retailers to local authorities, restaurants to manufacturers, and beyond. WRAP says it will work with a variety of partners to show that wasted food is an issue that affects everyone – and the planet.
According to the group, wasted food contributes 8–10 per cent of total man-made greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and roughly one third of food produced around the world is wasted. The Week will also focus on the Hospitality and Food Service sector, looking at what changes they can implement to ensure as little food as possible is thrown away.
Marcus Gover, CEO of WRAP, commented, “The climate crisis remains one of the biggest and most urgent challenges facing humanity. Wasted food has a significant contribution to climate change and is something we need to address together. WRAP as the data and research to demonstrate the reality of the issue – what we need is for partners to get this date in the diary, and join us in the Food Waste Action Week activities to make wasting food a thing of the past.”
Food Surplus and Waste Champion Ben Elliot added, “The Food Waste Action Week next March is going to be crucial for raising everyone’s awareness of wasted food as an environmental concern. I urge businesses from across the food industry to lend their support to this week of action, working with WRAP to share these vital messages and make essential changes that can reduce wasted food.”
Photo caption: WRAP says that food waste accounts for 8-10% of GHG emissions
Photo source: WRAP