FoodCloud launches new strategy aimed at reducing food waste on island of Ireland

FoodCloud, the not-for-profit social enterprise seeking to reduce food waste and alleviate food insecurity in Ireland, has announced plans to double the volume it redistributes to more than 600 charities by 2025.

Through a new partnership aimed at reducing food waste across the island of Ireland, it will deploy a new sourcing strategy in line with FoodCloud’s objectives of doubling the volume redistributed to 5,100 tonnes per year by 2025.

This equates to approximately 12 million meals redistributed in Ireland and reducing 16,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent. Tackling food loss and waste helps address climate change, while enhances food security and the long-term sustainability of food systems.

Through this initiative, Coca-Cola HBC Ireland and Northern Ireland will support FoodCloud and FareShare, its counterparts in Northern Ireland, in reviewing and analysing the existing approach to food sourcing and identifying challenges and opportunities for growth.

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Minister of State for Land Use and Biodiversity, Pippa Hackett, joined FoodCloud and Coca-Cola HBC to announce the three-year initiative which will see the introduction of a new food sourcing strategy.

Over the past three years, Coca-Cola HBC has supported both FoodCloud and FareShare with financial and product donations as well as volunteer hours.

The initiative is designed to support efforts of social enterprises to engage larger manufacturers, producers and suppliers across the food and drink supply chain in surplus redistribution. Through the strategy, it is envisaged food industry partners will have the knowledge and processes needed to identify ways to prevent food waste and reduce emissions within the sector.

Ms Hackett said the food sourcing strategy is a very welcome initiative. “Tackling food loss and food waste is a key step in combating climate change and in Ireland’s transition to a circular economy. With over 770,000 tonnes of food waste recorded in 2020, it is vital that producers, suppliers, consumers and Government work together to address this pressing challenge,” she said.

Since 2013, FoodCloud has redistributed more than 201.3 million meals in Ireland and internationally. It has also rescued more than 84,555 tonnes of food from going to waste; avoiding 270,576 tonnes of CO2-eq. Food waste accounts for up to 10 per cent of global emissions.

[ Step away from the bin and read our quick guide to reducing food waste ]

Aoibheann O’Brien, FoodCloud co-founder and partnerships director, said that while it had made great progress in rescuing and redistributing surplus food, this represented only a very small percentage of the 770,300 tonnes of food wasted every year in Ireland.

“We are still only scratching the surface of surplus potential in Ireland and more needs to be done to achieve the ambitious target of halving food waste by 2023,” she added.

“In our efforts to cut emissions as a country, the food sourcing strategy has an important role to play in reviewing the processes in place and providing tangible learnings to help us double the volume of food redistributed to 5,100 tonnes per year by 2025 and to cut the associated emissions of wasted food.”

The strategy not only analyses the surplus available and of the needs of its charity and voluntary organisation partners, “but also ways to unlock pockets of fresh produce and a diverse range of foods that can contribute to a balanced diet for the communities that we serve”, she said.

Tom Burke, Coca-Cola HBC corporate affairs and sustainability director, said: “As the largest beverage provider on the island of Ireland and the world’s most sustainable beverage company, we recognise we have a role to play in leading the industry response and developing partnerships across the sector.”

“We look forward to seeing a vibrant community of industry and community partners emerge as we work collectively to prevent food loss and achieve a world without waste,” he added.