Nestlé UK and Ireland has started an initiative to make sure that significantly more surplus food is redistributed and available for both charitable and commercial use.
Developed by the company with surplus food redistributor Company Shop and WRAP, the plan consists of detailed site assessments to identify any opportunity to reduce food waste at source, and find ways that any part-processed products can be redistributed instead of being used for animal feed or anaerobic digestion.
The method has been tested at a number of Nestlé factories and is said to be an economically sustainable way for food manufacturers to tackle operational food waste.
Nestlé said that increasing the amount of food being distributed in this way will also help the national redistribution infrastructure to grow and support the food industry’s efforts to reduce waste.
Company Shop and Nestlé estimate that this approach will increase the levels of charitable redistribution from their UK operations by the equivalent of two million meals per year on top of the products that already go to food waste charity Fareshare.
The work forms part of Nestlé’s overall strategy to reduce food waste and increase redistribution across the company’s own operations as well as to collaborate and share with other organisations in the food sector in the battle against food waste.
Nestlé UK and Ireland head of environmental sustainability Andy Griffiths said: “As a food manufacturer, we see food waste as a very important issue for business and society. To help us reduce and find good uses for our surplus food we’ve been working with our partners to find innovative ways to address these issues in our supply chain but also to help the wider industry.
“The joint expertise and insight of our longstanding partners in food surplus waste have been crucial in developing a viable and scalable approach.
“By increasing the amount of food going through charitable redistribution, collectively we can make a significant impact and help people in need as well as reduce the environmental challenges associated with food waste.”
Company Shop chairman John Marren said: “We don’t want to see any good food going to waste and Company Shop works hard with manufacturers and brands to help them to unlock the full potential in their surplus.
“We commend Nestlé for their joined-up approach to preventing waste and we look forward to demonstrating the positive social, environmental and economic impact that can be achieved through this programme.”
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