Business resources for reducing food waste
Plan Zheroes helps businesses redistribute their surplus food but we always support measures that help prevent food waste from arising in the first place.
That’s why we’ve signed up to Courtauld 2030 – the voluntary agreement for the food & drinks industry to reduce food waste by 50% by 2030. As a Courtauld 2030 engagement partner, we:
- help raise awareness about food waste and waste reduction initiatives
- contribute our knowledge and expertise on surplus food redistribution
- shout about the successes of our business partners!
If you haven’t yet started on your journey to reduce food waste in your business, here are some handy resources to help you get started.
Legislation
According to the waste regulations (EU Waste Framework Directive (2008), The Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2011 and the Waste (Scotland) Regulations businesses must take reasonable measures to:
- prevent waste
- apply the waste hierarchy when they transfer waste
WRAP (The Waste and Resources Action Programme) has set out the waste hierarchy as it applies to the food & drinks sector. According to the hierarchy, businesses should redistribute any food that is still fit for human consumption before disposing of it by other means (anaerobic digestion, composting, incineration or landfill).
Downloads
Preventing Food Waste
The first step to reducing food waste is monitoring and measuring it.
Using these handy tracking sheets and calculators from WRAP’s campaign ‘Your Business is Food – Don’t Throw it Away’, in just 3 or 7 days you can identify your waste hotspots and some simple actions that will boost your bottom line. Auditing your waste will also help identify any food that can be redistributed to charities via Plan Zheroes!
‘YOUR BUSINESS IS FOOD’ DOWNLOADS:
- Starter Guide
- Poster Checklist
- 7 day Tracking Sheet
- 7 day Calculator Guide
- 7 day Calculator
- 3 day Tracking Sheet
These case studies show how businesses such as Elior, Greene King, Dragon Hotel and Crieff Hydro used the Your Business is Food materials to achieve double digit percent reductions in their food waste and save thousands of pounds per year.
Food waste arising from events is particularly tricky. WRAP has put together some guidance with tips on how you can minimise waste from banquets, meetings and other events:
CASE STUDY DOWNLOADS:
Redistribution – new guidance on labelling and freezing
Information on what types of food can be redistributed, liability issues and how to donate your food via Plan Zheroes can be found in the FAQs and How We Work sections of this website.
Businesses often ask us about labelling requirements for food that is being redistributed. In November 2017, WRAP, the Food Standards Agency and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs issued guidance on labelling requirements for the safe and legal redistribution of food, particularly with respect to how food can be safely frozen down before its use by date prior to redistribution.
