Co-op battles to cut food waste
THE Co-operative Group is to become the first retailer in the UK to include storage instructions for fruit and vegetables on its fresh produce bags, in a bid to help tackle household food waste.
The storage instructions indicate the optimum conditions under which each of the products should be kept to maintain freshness – for example apples kept in the fridge can keep for an extra two weeks.
The initiative is part of the retailer’s support for the Government-funded Love Food Hate Waste campaign, which aims to raise awareness of the need to reduce food waste, as well as providing practical tips to help consumers waste less food.
According to the Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP), UK households throw away 6.7 million tonnes of food every year – 70% of which could have been eaten – at a cost of £617 per household.
The Co-operative is also supporting The Love Food Hate Waste campaign by switching the emphasis of its promotional offers – particularly on perishable goods, such as fruit and veg – from Buy One Get One Free to half-price offers.
The retailer says that this will further reduce food waste by helping customers buy what they actually need, rather than doubling up on items they don’t necessarily want simply to take advantage of the promotional deal.
Debbie Robinson, director of food marketing at The Co-operative Group, said: “Household food waste is a growing problem and, as the UK’s largest convenience store retailer, we are determined to do all we can to help our customers tackle this issue, as well as helping them to spend wisely in these difficult times.”
The produce bags including the storage instructions will go into 150 Co-operative stores nationwide from 22 June, and will be rolled out to all Co-operative stores stocking fresh produce by the end of 2009.
Later in the year The Co-operative will also be running a series of “Watch your Waste” events throughout the UK, with cookery demonstrations and tips on how to reduce waste.
