Green glory for food waste initiative

A pioneering initiative to help drive down food waste has scooped a hat trick of prestigious accolades at the Houses of Parliament.

Waste less, Save more beat off competition from more than 500 of the UK’s greenest organisations at the annual Green Apple Awards.

The partnership between our Environmental Education Project and Sainsbury’s was recognised for the innovative methods used to reduce food waste and save money through educational activities.

Cllr Peter Watson, Chairman of Environmental and Development Services at our Council said:

“It’s an honour to win these prestigious awards and an endorsement of the partnership work with Sainsbury’s, as well as the high standards and outstanding results achieved to help combat food waste.”

Menu Magic, a fun show using tricks to remind children and adults about saving food and money, picked up a Golden Apple Award, as did Picnic Rescue, which trialled designer packaging to stop picnic food from being damaged. Picnic Rescue saw 98% of participants achieve a 75% reduction in food waste.

The ground breaking Fab Foods, which sees experts work with local schools to develop action plans to minimise food waste, scooped the Local Authority Champion award. Eureka Primary School, in Midway, has achieved a 37% reduction over just two terms.

Assistant Head Teacher Jacqui Johnson said:

“The whole project, from weighing waste, finding out fascinating facts, campfire cooking and especially Magic Tim’s show, all contributed to enabling us to reduce the food wasted in the school. It is a scheme that fully deserves the recognition it is getting on a national level.”

The Green Apple Awards are part of The Green Organisation’s international campaign to find the greenest companies, Councils and communities.

Rachel Carrington, Waste less, Save more project lead for Sainsbury’s, said:

“We know from the work we’ve done in Swadlincote as part of our Waste less, Save more campaign that changing attitudes and behaviours towards food waste in the home can take time. 

“So this makes the results achieved by the three award-winning projects particularly impressive. We are delighted to see the team recognised in this way and we are already seeing great results from other towns who are replicating and expanding the projects developed in Swadlincote.” 

7 November 2017