Are we doing enough to tackle food waste?

We recognise that the wasting of food in our society is a concern for everyone, but it is a complex issue. Some of this is down to portion sizes, but it is also affected by a mixture of other factors, including a lack of consumer knowledge on how to prepare food, concerns over sell-by dates and food safety, and a heavier reliance on pre-packed food.

For our part, Asda Magazine, read by four million of our customers, seeks to address the lack of information on how to prepare simple meals. We are also increasing sell-by dates on our food so customers can keep food for longer. Our website carries a wide variety of recipes with an expansive search facility so that users can find a recipe around a main ingredient or build a recipe from scratch.

We support Wrap’s ‘Love Food Hate Waste’ campaign, and will continue to work closely with the organisation.

Julian Walker-Palin, corporate policy manager (sustainability and ethics), Asda

No The government and retailers appear to be focusing on the Packaging (Essential Requirements) Regulations and the reduction of packaging. Packaging is a particularly visible form of waste and consumers react badly towards perceived over-packaging.

Consumers need to understand the scale of the problem: the fact that we throw away one third of the food we buy. Wrap’s ‘Love Food Hate Waste’ campaign aims to raise awareness of the effects of food waste and how to tackle the problem.

Confusion has been created about the role of packaging and, as a sector, we need to ensure that its function is understood. We require combined strategies on how to minimise both food and packaging waste.

Packaging protects and preserves, ensuring higher levels of health and safety, and reduction in food waste due to extended shelf-life. By optimising, rather than reducing, packaging, we can actively assist in the reduction of food waste.

Anne Garrigan, packaging development manager, Burton’s Foods

Yes The UK packaging industry is one of the most technically developed and advanced sectors and needs to stop beating itself up every time an article appears about its environmental evils.

Wrap says one third of the food we buy is binned, which is alarming, especially when you think of how technological advances in packaging protect products and prolong shelf-life. Perhaps it does too good a job?

Shoppers need to make more measured decisions about how much and how often to buy. They should then follow storage instructions and check fridges are at the right temperature.

There is always going to be food waste, but it can be minimised, diverted from landfill and disposed of using home and municipal composting.

I like the concept of energy recovery, and several suppliers and retailers have instigated projects. But we’re not geared up at national level and government and local authorities need to play a part by providing funding and a co-ordinated infrastructure.

Ken Mulholland, packaging services manager, Brakes

Maybe The UK government, retailers and packaging suppliers are constantly looking to do more, but can you ever do enough?

Reports on food waste have indicated how wasteful the average household has become. The issue will take time to solve – habits need to change, new materials need to be considered and new packaging needs to be smart. Consumers need clear product guidance, while the packaging needs to be environmentally friendly.

Timestrip is a step forward in the development of innovative packaging. With clear visual indicators demonstrating how long products have been open or stored, they alert consumers before food is wasted because it is out of date.

This benefits not only one’s health and wallet, but clearly the environment as well, as it encourages consumers to reduce waste.

This important issue demands solutions such as those Timestrip can provide.

Reuben Isbitsky, joint chief executive, Timestrip

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