Links:
Ontario-based consulting firm Value Chain Management International (VCMI) Study – http://vcm-international.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Food-Waste-in-Canada-27-Billion-Revisited-Dec-10-2014.pdf
Quest Food Exchange – http://www.questoutreach.org/
Alberta Food Bank – http://www.albertafoodbanks.org/
http://www.albertafoodbanks.org/london-drugs-partnership
Canadians waste $31 billion in food each year.* When that food decomposes in a landfill, it creates methane, one of the most potent greenhouse gasses. So our environment pays the ultimate price. It’s up to us all to do what we can to make food waste history.
Where food waste comes from:*
- Consumers – 47%
- Retail – 10%
- On Farm – 10%
- Processing, Transport & Distribution – 24%
- Restaurants & Hotels – 9%
What YOU can do:
1. Compost your Food Scraps Vancouver treats food waste as “a resource,” says Carrie Hightower, a technical adviser in Metro Vancouver’s zero-waste implementation program, sending it to commercial composters like Harvest Power where an anaerobic digester converts organic waste into green energy.
2. Switch to smaller dishes and portions The standard plate is up to 36% larger than it was 50 years ago!*** So while 6 oz of pasta on an 8” plate looks reasonable, the same 6 oz on a 12” plate may look more like an appetizer.
3. Give uneaten Food a second chance Put that old banana in a smoothie. Make vegetable soups, or try your hand at freezing & home canning!
4. Never waste water-intensive foods such as meat Throw away that burger and you’re wasting more than just food. Producing 1 kg of animal protein requires about 100 times more water than producing 1 kg of grain protein!**
5. Try the FoodKeeper App to help keep track of expiry dates This handy little app gives you information on food storage times, helping organize your meals to make the best of food you have.
What is London Drugs doing about Food Waste?
Every store has a program in place, with connections to multiple organizations across Western Canada.
In small rural communities or single markets we work with local charities, food banks or churches. If that’s not an option, items are returned to our distribution centre and forwarded to one of our larger partners.
In BC we partner with Quest Food Exchange, whose goal is ‘reducing hunger with dignity’. Unusable items are put into an organics recycling program.
In Alberta we partner with the Alberta Food Bank in Edmonton and Calgary. These fine groups also provide education and support, like nutritional seminars and kitchen classes.
More towns & cities are creating infrastructure for organics recycling. We are happy to share our knowledge and learning with any organizations or agencies involved in reducing food waste.
In the first quarter of 2016, we diverted or gave out over 72 Tons of food!
Learn more. Visit our website for blogs, videos, articles and products that help you live a little greener.
http://www.greendeal.ca
