Surplus food redistribution guidance

   10 April 18            

From farm to fork, one third of our food is wasted. That sounds like a lot. And it is. Food can go to waste at every stage of its journey. From wonky veg being rejected on farms, to damage during transit, manufacturing issues with faulty packaging, or excess retail stock at the supermarket. Even forgetting about that bag of salad going limp at the back of the fridge at home - it happens.

Much of this food can be prevented from occurring in the first place, and Resource Efficient Scotland can offer free food waste audits to SMEs in Scotland to help tackle this. But for food waste that’s more difficult to avoid, redistribution to a local charity or organisation can be a great option. It saves on waste management costs and does some good in the local community.

Perhaps the school breakfast club would benefit from surplus bread? Or the local community café needs some fresh fruit and veg? Even the local Scout Group might have some hungry mouths to feed? There are lots of organisations willing to accept all types of food – sandwiches, fresh fruit and veg, tinned or frozen goods, meat and fish. It’s just a case of finding a willing recipient and putting a set process in place.

Our Surplus Food Redistribution Guide can help you do this. It offers step by step guidance and is backed by Food Standards Scotland, so any food safety concerns are covered.

We also have a series of webinars explaining some of the free platforms available for food redistribution. OLIO, Plan Zheroes and Fareshare are just some of the many options available to help direct surplus food to those that can make the best use of it.

If you’re interested in finding out more, visit http://www.zerowastescotland.org.uk/food-waste/surplus-food-redistribution