Key Issue 6:
Reducing waste and the ecological footprint of the food system
With nearly half of all food thrown away, reducing food waste has huge potential social, economic and environmental benefits. But waste is not the only issue – how food is produced, processed, packaged and supported is also vital in managing its environmental footprint.
In Cambridge:
The City Council has a residential and a commercial food waste collection scheme
CSF works with businesses using WRAP tools to ensure the Food Waste Hierarchy is incorporated into their practice, reducing food waste
CSF encourages the development of community fridges, which take surplus food donated by businesses and individuals and make it available to people in need
Surplus food is collected and made into community meals through organisations such as Foodcycle
CSF’s Pledge/Award scheme for businesses encourages reduction in packaging and in use of foods with high greenhouse gas emissions, such as ruminant meat
CSF regularly runs public campaigns on reducing food waste and reducing meat and dairy consumption
Eating for our future climate diet campaign
A campaign in partnership with Zero Carbon Communities fund from South Cambridgeshire District Council, raising awareness of the impact our food choices can have on climate change and how we can all be part of the solution.
COMMUNITY FRIDGES
The UK bins a staggering 10 million tonnes of food every year! These shocking stats have galvanised a Community Fridge food distribution movement, with fridges popping up all over the UK.
DONATE SURPLUS FOOD
Find out how to reduce food waste from your business by donating surplus food to Cambridge’s Community Fridge Network.
Taste Not Waste
We are helping restaurants, cafes and food outlets across the city to start saving by measuring and cutting their food waste.
environmental advice for food businesses
Do you want to go green? Have a look through some information on the benefits of reducing packaging waste, saving energy and keeping things local.
Community Food Waste Projects
There are many projects across the city that work to redistribute surplus or unwanted food to give it to those who need it and prevent waste.
Waste Less SAVE More
Cambridge Waste Less Save More was launched in June 2017, aiming raise awareness and make an impact on the amount of food going to waste, primarily within Cambridge households.
Food For Our Future
We are working with residents in South Cambridgeshire to take action on climate change by cutting food waste in their homes. Find out more here.
harston & gamlingay: zero carbon communities
We are working with Harston and Gamlingay communities to take action on food waste. Find out more here.