Reducing Food Waste: A Guide for Self-Controlled Consumers

What if you could make a huge difference to the environment by being more aware of what you eat and how much you waste? We all have the power to make the world a better place by reducing food waste. Continue reading this article to find out how.

Did you know that around a third of all food produced globally ends up being wasted? Last year across Oasis 172 tonnes of academy lunches ended up in the bin, that’s the equivalent of 30 elephants or one and a half blue whales, in just one year! That’s a lot of food – and a lot of unnecessary damage to our planet. Wasting food doesn’t just mean wasting the food itself; it also wastes the water, energy, and resources used to produce it.

Plus, when food is thrown away, it usually ends up in landfill, where it rots and releases harmful greenhouse gases like methane, which contribute to climate change. Although we separate our food waste at Oasis and it goes to anaerobic digestion and composting facilities rather than landfill, it is still best to try to prevent food from becoming waste in the first place.

As well as it’s negative impact on the environment, we know that many people around the world suffer from malnutrition as they don’t get access to enough food, which gives even more reason for us to consider our behaviours more compassionately and try to reduce food waste. Food waste is part of the global goals – goal 12 sustainable consumption has a target to halve global food waste by 2030, but there are connected links to goal 2 zero hunger and goal 13 climate action too.

It all starts with awareness and choice. Being a self-controlled consumer means being mindful of what meals you choose, how much food you take and making sure you eat it. Here are some easy ways to start reducing food waste:

1. Think Before You Take: Resist the temptation to pile your plate high with food. Think about how hungry you really are, start with smaller portions and go back for seconds if you’re still hungry. This way, you’re less likely to throw away uneaten food.

2.Try New Things: In partnership with Sodexo, Oasis is introducing more sustainable and healthy meals, like plant-based options that are better for the environment. Don’t be afraid to give these a try – you’ll be surprised at how good they taste!

3. Save Leftovers: If you have leftovers, don’t toss them out. If it’s allowed, you can save them for later, or even share them with a friend. Reducing waste starts with making sure that as little food as possible ends up in the bin.

Oasis Academies and Sodexo are working hard to reduce food waste and teach students about sustainability. For example, we’ve created menus that are not only healthy but also environmentally friendly. By offering more plant-based meals and reducing the focus on meat and dairy, schools can lower their carbon footprint.

We’re also using technology to track and reduce food waste. For instance, Sodexo’s WasteWatch programme helps kitchen staff monitor how much food is thrown away in preparing academy lunches and why, which helps them make better decisions about what and how much food to prepare. And the Agents for Change programme gives student-led feedback on menu options which influence menu creation. It is really important for Sodexo to be able to gather student’s thoughts; it is so important that they have a voice and are getting a service and product that meets their expectations and it gives the opportunity to explain Sodexo’s principles and socially responsible initiatives, including supporting Oasis’ target of being net zero by 2030.

Since September 2022, Sodexo teams at Oasis schools’ have prevented 303 tons of CO2 - the equivalent to 79,814 meals saved.

Have you ever seen a carrot that looks a little funny or a potato that’s not perfectly round? These “wonky” vegetables are just as tasty and nutritious as the regular ones, but they often get thrown away because they don’t look perfect. Sodexo use wonky veggies in academy meals to to save perfectly good food from ending up in the rubbish.

Why does this matter to you? Younger generations are more aware of sustainability issues than any generation before. According to a global survey by campaign group Avaaz and the University of Bath, 59% of young people are very worried about climate change, and 80% believe that adults haven’t done enough to care for the planet. By reducing food waste and making sustainable choices, we can all take action and help protect the environment.

Therefore, reducing food waste is a simple but powerful way to make a difference. By being a self-controlled consumer, trying new foods, and supporting sustainable initiatives at your school, you can help create a greener, healthier planet for everyone. Remember, every small step counts!

This article was collaboratively written by Elizabeth Axon, Sodexo’s Social Responsibility and Engagement Manager for OCL, Sharmilee Evans-Rao, Head of Communications at Sodexo, and Jessica Marshall, Environmental Sustainability Manager at OCL.