Each year, the UK wastes 5 million tonnes of edible food and drink –enough to fill 9 Wembley Stadiums or 4,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools. That's why our next national community campaign is focused on loving your leftovers.

From the 1^st – 31^st July, we’ll be encouraging members to:

• Raise awareness of the effects of food wastage.
• Be mindful of how much food they throw away.
• Get creative with their leftovers!

To kickstart the campaign, we've created a downloadable pack (with handy statistics and resources) and a food waste diary:

Downloadable Graphics

Feel free to download and use these graphics on your own social channels. If you'd like any creating with your chamber's logo, email: Hannah.Woodcock@jciuk.org.uk

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Why We're Focusing on Food Wastage

It impacts your budget…Food waste is worth £800 per year to the average UK family, which collectively adds up to £15 billion per year (The Waste and Resources Action Programme). Zero Waste Scotland has estimated that every household could save an average of £440 a year by reducing the food it wastes via planning meals, making better use of storage and being inventive with using up leftovers.

It impacts the environment…When food waste ends up in landfill it rots, producing methane gas, one of the most damaging greenhouse gases driving climate change (Zero Waste Scotland).

Prepping meals can positively impact your mental wellbeing…According to a survey by Dr. Oetker, two-thirds of respondents said that baking usually improves their mood, while 61% said that sharing their bakes with others makes them happy.

It supports Sustainable Development Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production…A key target for 2030 is to “halve per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels and reduce food losses along production and supply chains, including post-harvest losses.”

Activity Ideas

Whether you'd prefer to record your food waste habits or organise a themed networking event, there are plenty of ways to get involved with the #JCIUKLoveYourLeftovers campaign. Read on for our suggestions and don't forget to log your ACE Hours.

• Share recipes that use leftovers or reduce food waste in the JCI UK Members’ Facebook groupwith the hashtag #JCIUKLoveYourLeftovers

• Keep a food waste diary (see link above) to identify the types of food you’re throwing away – and why. At the end of the week, share anything you found surprising about your habits in the Facebook group.

• Hold an Alfresco Networking or Potluck Picnic event. Encourage attendees to bring leftovers from home. In the spirit of reducing waste, use reusable containers and cutlery. Remember to label ingredients for those with allergies and dietary requirements!

• Organise a 'Conscious Cook-Off' or 'Love Your Leftovers Baking Competition.' Participants can bring meals/bakes with an ingredient that they tend to throwaway. Remember to label ingredients for those with allergies and dietary requirements! Tip: Judge entries based on Taste, Appearance and Creativity.

• Host talks with professionals in the food waste sector.

• Volunteer with food waste charities e.g. FareShare, The Real Junk Food Project.

• Spread the word about food wastage in your workplace.

• Facilitate a discussion about food waste in your local chamber. Play a film about the effects of food wastage (see resources) or hold a mini quiz.

• Team up with a café/restaurant. Can you encourage them to sign up to a food waste app (e.g.: Too Good to Go)? For inspiration, read about JCI Belfast’s amazing partnership with Greggs and 2 homeless charities here.

More Info

If you'd like to discuss this campaign further, please email Community Action Director Hannah.Woodcock@jciuk.org.uk