Dr Neil Hudson, MP for Penrith and The Border, encourages constituents to ‘Win, Don’t Bin’, as part of the third annual Food Waste Action Week, supported by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
The UK-wide campaign, is aimed at raising awareness of household food waste and the steps people can take to help reduce it. The Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) is leading the campaign with simple consumer targeted messages.
4.5 million tonnes of edible food are wasted in UK households annually - enough to fill 3,600 Olympic sized swimming pools. We know that around a quarter of this (1.1. million tonnes) happens because too much food is prepared, cooked or served.
A passionate food campaigner, Dr Hudson triggered an official Inquiry into Food Security, as part of his role on the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. This inquiry will help produce informed policy keeping the nation fed with nutritious, affordable and sustainable food.
As well as costing consumers, food waste also takes a massive toll on the environment. WRAP estimate that food waste in the UK contributes around 25 million tonnes of CO2 per annum – about a fifth of the amount produced by all the cars on our roads. Dr Hudson is fully behind the Government’s net zero ambitions and has long pushed for a faster transition to a low- carbon economy.
Dr Neil Hudson, MP for Penrith and The Border, said:
“We can all do more to reduce our food waste, so I am really pleased to back Food Waste Action Week 2023. Using up everything saves money, time, and our precious environment – so I hope people take note, implement some simple food strategies and together we can halve food waste by 2030.”
This year, the theme of Food Waste Action Week is “Win. Don’t bin”. The aim is to promote the ways people can use more of the food they buy, and how this can help to save them time and money. Current food waste levels cost UK households some £3.5 billion every year according to WRAP.
Tips include planning shopping trips, properly storing food, keeping note of fresh food and eat every edible morsel of food. More tips can be found here: www.lovefoodhatewaste.com/good-food-habits
