Less Waste, More Taste: Exploring Creative Food Waste Reduction
We’re highlighting some of the ways we can be more sustainable in our relationship with food purchase and consumption. The foods we choose have a big impact on the way agri-food systems work. We all have a responsibility to make better, more sustainable food decisions that can influence positive, long-lasting agricultural and ecological changes both for people and our planet.
Reducing Food Waste at Events
Globally, around 17% of the world’s food supply is wasted, which is an unfortunate statistic considering almost 10% of the world’s population struggles with food scarcity each year. (UN Environment Programme's Food Waste Index Report 2021 and ActionAgainstHunger.org). If each individual and every business made a commitment to finding creative ways to reduce food loss, imagine the change we could make!
Worldwide, some 931 million tonnes of food per year are wasted or lost each year and an estimated 26% of that is due to food service or events (WeForum.org). Some of the worst environmental impacts stem from food waste at events and a good bit of this waste is preventable.
What Can I Do to Reduce Food Waste at Events?
There are many small, daily changes that individuals, families, and households can implement to significantly reduce our collective food waste - and we can apply this mindset to reducing waste at events, too! By purchasing only what we need, using all of what we purchase, and finding ways to throw away less food overall, as event professionals we can be more responsible and intentional and we can apply this mindset to reducing waste at events, too!
Avoid buffets and require meal registration for every food-included function.
If your client wants lots of food options, opt for smaller serving sizes.
Measure and track leftover food, to help you make better recommendations going forward.
Have a food-waste plan and ask your venue about their processes for reducing waste.
Canadian Companies Doing Good for the Community
We love what these Canadian businesses are doing to turn the tide toward a more sustainable, eco-conscious connection to our food. They’re working hard to ensure that less food goes to waste and they’re also prioritizing educating the community on inventive uses for surplus food, leftovers, and would-be scraps, as well as general cooking and even grocery shopping classes. We’re grateful for continued trends toward reducing #foodwaste and we aim to be a part of this movement in ways both great and small.
🏃🏿♀️ Vancouver Food Runners
Vancouver Food Runners partners with local businesses to collect and deliver surplus food to non-profit organisations working with food insecure populations in Metro Vancouver. Last month, they distributed over 72,615 pounds of food to local communities, completed over 400 food rescues, and mitigated 31,543 pounds of C02 in the process!
They’ve also created an Experiential Learning Program for students which teaches them via ride-along food rescues and donation efforts. This program runs each Friday for 9 weeks and is an incredible opportunity to teach young students the value of #reducingfoodwaste and a few of the ways we can all contribute to less community food insecurity. See ways that you and your organisation can get involved here: https://www.vancouverfoodrunners.com/
Vancouver Food Runners
👨🏾🍳 Tablee des Chefs
Tablee des Chefs’ mission is to feed the hungry and teach local youth valuable culinary skills they can use for life. Through a combination of food recovery programs and solidarity kitchens that cook meals for food banks, they help to feed thousands of families in Quebec. Tablee des Chefs is a unique place for aspiring chefs and foodies alike to gather for cooking classes, Culinary Camp, and food drives. Young chefs ages 10-15 can participate in Culinary Camp, where one can learn the art of crepe making, the inner workings of bread dough, donuts, cake decorating skills, how to prepare dinner entrees, and more!
Tablee des Chefs is now also offering Web Capsules designed to teach young people how to plan their visits to the market, Culinary Kits for blossoming young home chefs, and some classes that are teen-specific. We love that they teach with waste reduction as a top priority and also offer special events and lots of community-building food drive opportunities. Scope out classes and programs here: https://www.tableedeschefs.org/en/
Le Grande Tablee - Image Source Tablee des Chefs
🥕 Food Stash Foundation
This Vancouver-based foundation sources surplus food from local grocery stores, wholesalers, and farms and redistributes it via bicycle delivery to local families in need. Their eco efforts reduce waste and help to build food security, as well as stronger families and communities. They even have a Rideshare program that allows volunteer drivers to connect with families and build memories and relationships along the way!
The Food Stash Foundation is home to the Gardeners’ Food Donor Club which was created for Vancouver local gardeners to donate extraneous fresh produce to support their community relief programs, such as their Rescued Food Box or their Pay-What-You-Feel Market. Both of these programs use rescued produce in order to support those in food insecurity situations or those looking to make their grocery routine more sustainable. Discover Food Stash Foundation and how your company can get involved here: https://www.foodstash.ca/
Rescued Food Box - Image Source Food Stash Foundation
🍐 Food Mesh
Food Mesh uses digital solutions to unite all elements of the food supply chain to help organisations quickly divert their surplus food to the people in our communities who need it most. They also offer virtual cooking classes, recipes, and healthy tips for using rescued or leftover fridge scraps to make unexpected and delightful meals and snacks. In addition, they also host occasional webinars which focus on their various initiatives. Food Mesh also partners with different companies to rescue food and distribute it to those who struggle with food insecurity.
Their Instagram account is brimming with tips on how to repurpose or regrow kitchen scraps, reduce food waste, connect the community with surplus food rescue organisations, and more. Check it out here: https://www.instagram.com/foodmesh/. Or view their website for the full experience here: https://foodmesh.ca/
The Marketplace at Food Mesh
🍞 Too Good To Go
Too Good To Go is an eco-friendly Canadian business that helps connect consumers with delicious surplus food that would otherwise go to waste. All you have to do is download their app to discover which restaurants and stores in your city need excess food rescued. They’re now in 10+ Canadian cities and are a Certified B Corp! Certified B Corporations are for-profit organisations that “voluntarily meet higher standards for transparency, accountability, and performance” (HBR.org).
Too Good To Go boasts a unique offering: Surprise Bags of surplus food with nice varieties of everything from bread and pastry items to fresh fruits and veggies. We love that they offer plenty of novel eco tips on how to creatively use the food treasures you scoop and inventive ways to use up leftovers and food bits. If you purchase 1 Surprise Bag each week, you can save up to $500 a year on your grocery costs. Check them out to get started today at: https://toogoodtogo.ca/en-ca
Surprise Food Bags - Image Source Too Good To Go
Whether you’re planning your next event, or are generally feeling inspired to tackle food waste, connect with these inspirational companies to learn how you can volunteer or how your business can partner with these amazing programs!
Alternatively, what local resources are just around the corner from you and how can you help to reduce food waste in your area? Drop your suggestions in the comments below!