Irish households throw out €1.5 billion worth of food each year, peaking at Christmas time, when households waste 50% more - the equivalent of hundreds of thousands of Christmas dinners, research shows.
Irish shoppers waste 50% more food during Christmas week than compared to the rest of the year, a survey conducted by iReach Insights on behalf of Aldi Ireland showed.
Despite Irish shoppers reporting an increased propensity to help charities during the festive season (with 69% responding that they were more likely to give to charity at Christmas), only 21% of those surveyed donated excess Christmas food to those in need last year.
The news comes as supermarket Aldi launches its Food for Good campaign with FoodCloud, whereby customers can buy and leave food donations in their local store, so that it can be distributed to local charities.
“Christmas should be a joyous time for everyone," said John Curtin, group buying director, Aldi ireland.
"Sadly, there are many who need that extra bit of help."
Food for Good
Now in its second year, Aldi’s Food for Good campaign which started today Friday, 29 November will run until Sunday, 8 December.
“Every Christmas we all find ourselves with an extra tin of biscuits or box of mince pies that we didn’t really need after all," highlighted Aoibheann O’Brien, co-founder of FoodCloud.
"These leftovers often get added to the tonnes of food waste created every festive season."
Aldi shoppers can donate an extra non-perishable food item to one of the specially designed ‘Food for Good’ boxes that will be appearing across Aldi’s 140 stores nationwide.
"We have over 100 local charities partnered directly with Aldi stores across the country, ensuring the food donated will be going to those most in need in the community.” O’Brien said.
The following non-perishable items are requested as donations to the ‘Food for Good’ Christmas Campaign: tea bags, instant coffee, biscuits, sugar, breakfast cereals, tinned goods, pasta and pasta sauces, jam, rice and rice pudding, soft drinks, sweet treats, selection boxes, Christmas Cake and Christmas pudding.
© 2019 Checkout – your source for the latest Irish retail news. Article by Donna Ahern. Click subscribe to sign up for the Checkout print edition.
