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Weekly Short
6 October, 2023
Major global events of the last few years, from Brexit, to Covid-19, to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, have hit the food and beverage industry hard. Not only have supply chain shocks caused by these events resulted in rising costs of produce, but they have also meant more food isn’t able to reach its intended destination. This means more waste, and even more financial pressure on businesses in the industry that have to dispose of it.
Fortunately, our friends at City Harvest identify a key solution to this problem in their latest report: how the simple of act of redistributing the still edible elements of food waste can generate benefits across the food industry value chain. Redistribution reduces emissions (food waste contributes around 10% of the worlds greenhouse gas emissions), eases financial strain on businesses in the industry, and contributes to combatting food insecurity by ensuring that surplus food reaches those in need. It’s truly a win-win situation, and by partnering with organisations such as City Harvest the food industry can integrate this step seamlessly into its value chain.
This is just one example of the way in which the food sector holds significant responsibility for climate change and has a vital role in addressing various social challenges. This raises the stakes on innovations in the sector that will help us get to a more sustainable future. If you’re interested, we recommend checking out next week’s panel discussion on this very topic. Part of the Sustainability Network Speaker Series hosted by Cranfield School of Management, you can attend the event online or in person at 5:30pm on 11th October. Find out more and register for the event here to discover how the industry is forging ahead on the path to a more sustainable and responsible future.
By Lucy Bell