Today, Minister of State for Land Use and Biodiversity Pippa Hackett joined FoodCloud and partners Coca-Cola HBC Ireland and Northern Ireland to announce a three-year initiative.
The move will see the introduction of a new food-sourcing strategy.
Speaking at today’s announcement, Minister Hackett said, “The new food-sourcing strategy is a very welcome initiative. Tackling food loss and food waste is a key step in combatting climate change and in Ireland’s transition to a circular economy.”
Strategic Approach
This new partnership will take a strategic approach to reducing food waste across the island of Ireland and focus on FoodCloud’s objectives of doubling the volume of food redistributed to 5,100 tonnes per year by 2025.
This equates to approximately 12,000,000 meals redistributed in Ireland and 16,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent avoided.
Aoibheann O’Brien, co-founder and partnerships director, FoodCloud, said, “The FoodCloud food-sourcing strategy supported by Coca-Cola HBC will be the foundation to significantly grow the volumes of food redistributed across the Irish supply chain by 2025 and support FoodCloud’s ambitious vision of a world where no good food goes to waste.
“In our efforts to cut emissions as a country, the food-sourcing strategy has an important role to play in reviewing the processes in place and providing tangible learnings, to help us double the volume of food redistributed to 5,100 tonnes per year by 2025 and to cut the associated emissions of wasted food.”
Strong Support
Through this initiative, Coca-Cola HBC noted that it will support FoodCloud in Ireland and FareShare in Northern Ireland to analyse and review the existing approach to food-sourcing and identify challenges and opportunities for growth.
The outcomes and the development of the food-sourcing strategy are designed to support the efforts of social enterprises to engage large manufacturers, producers and suppliers across the food-and-drink supply chain in surplus redistribution.
Through the implementation of this new strategy, food industry partners will have the knowledge and processes they need to identify ways to prevent food waste and reduce carbon emissions within the sector.
Commenting on the partnership, Tom Burke, corporate affairs and sustainability director, Coca-Cola HBC Ireland and Northern Ireland, said, “The journey to net zero requires partnership across all industries and sectors. As the largest beverage provider on the island of Ireland and the world’s most sustainable beverage company, we recognise we have a role to play in leading the industry response and developing partnerships across the sector.
“In our own operations, we are looking both internally and externally to reduce carbon emissions and play our part in driving sustainability. Over the past three years, we have seen the incredible work FoodCloud and FareShare do, and we are excited to work together to develop this vital food-sourcing strategy, which will evolve how the food-and-drink industry approaches food redistribution and, as a result, reduce associated carbon emissions.”
© 2023 Checkout – your source for the latest Irish retail news. Article by Donna Ahern. For more A-brand news, click here. Click subscribe to sign up for the Checkout print edition.
