ABC Borough Council is thrilled to support Food Waste Action Week, running from March 17- 23 which will focus on buying loose fruit and vegetables.
The campaign, which is the flagship annual event delivered by WRAP’s (Waste and Resources Action Programme) Love Food Hate Waste, helps households develop the tools they need to cut food waste at home.
This year, Food Waste Action Week will continue to raise awareness of the benefits of buying loose fruit and veg. With food waste costing on average £1,000 for a household of four every year, Food Waste Action Week will help shoppers to save money and waste less food by shopping for loose produce.
WRAP’s research has identified the potential to reduce household food waste by removing the packaging on uncut fresh fruit and veg, enabling us to buy closer to our needs as well as the ‘bonus’ benefit of eliminating a significant amount of unnecessary packaging.
Recently, WRAP has called for a packaging ban on 21 fruit and veg items, to be developed via a formal consultation process. This recommendation has been created in consultation with industry stakeholders from across the supply chain. Selling these 21 items loose has the potential to save in the region of 100,000 tonnes of edible fruit and vegetables from being wasted annually in people’s homes as well as saving 13,000 tonnes of plastic film.
Jackie Bailey, Senior Campaign Manager Love Food Hate Waste, said: “We know buying loose fruit and veg has the potential to significantly cut the amount of food ending up in the bin – now is the time for retailers and shoppers to make that a reality. Increasing loose fruit and veg offerings in store will not only reduce hard to recycle plastics, it will also enable shoppers to buy closer to their needs, slashing waste and stopping tens of thousands of tonnes of CO2 emissions.”
Lord Mayor of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough, Cllr Sarah Duffy said simple choices can make big impacts.
She said: “As a council, we want to support this campaign by encouraging local shops and residents to switch to loose fruit and vegetables as this can make a huge impact on reducing food waste and plastic as well as reducing costs.”
To find out how you can play your part please visit – www.wrap.ngo/take-action/love-food-hate-waste
