The end of multi-buy offers in supermarkets could be on the way as part of a new initiative aimed at reducing food waste, the Irish Independent reported. It includes a ban on 'quantity discounts' such as 'buy two, get the third free'. Instead supermarkets are to offer discounts on single items.
The initiative outlined that Ireland generates two tonnes of wasted food every minute, but some of the country's main retailers have now agreed to take part in a new National Forum on Food Waste.
Environment Minister Denis Naughten wants retailers to sign up to measures that will result in less food being dumped.
Around 40% of wastage comes from food production, while 60% comes from the household and commercial sector.
Representatives from Tesco, Spar, Aldi, Lidl and Musgrave, which oversees SuperValu and Centra, have agreed to take part in a new 'action group' under the stewardship of former Superquinn deputy chairman Eamonn Quinn.
"It is a huge conundrum of our time that deprivation exists alongside wasteful practices in society and what we do about it. Older generations laid much store by the adage 'waste not, want not'," Naughten told the Irish Independent.
Lidl has issued a statement supporting the Minister's proposal, stating: "As part of our 'A Better Tomorrow' strategy we are committed to a more sustainable way of doing business."
Lidl further stated that it was the first retailer to tackle food waste structurally by partnering with Crosscare in 2013, and is currently working with Food Cloud on a national partnership.
"We also actively educate and promote the reduction in food waste to all our teams in stores, warehouses and offices. We were delighted to take part in the forum organised by Minister Naughton and look forward to working proactively with him and the action group in the coming months," the retailer concluded in its statement.
Tesco has also come forward to show how it welcomes the food waste establishment. In a statement issued at lunchtime today, it said
this new industry action group brings together Ireland’s leading retailers to develop an action plan for how Ireland can achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals 2030 of halving food waste at retail and consumer levels and reduce food losses along production and supply chains.
As a founding partner of FoodCloud in 2013, Tesco was the first retailer in Ireland to roll out a food surplus donations programme and will continue to play a leading role in tackling the issue of food waste across Ireland through this new industry action group.
Christine Heffernan, Director of Corporate Affairs Tesco Ireland has been appointed by the Minister to the Food Waste Action Group. “Tesco is honoured to be appointed to the Group and we look forward to contributing to policy on food waste action.” Ms Heffernan said.
“While we may be one of the more efficient retailers when it comes to waste, we want to do more. We were the first retailer to support FoodCloud and in the last two years we have donated 2.8 million meals to community groups right across Ireland. In Tesco no food goes to landfill; we do not run buy one get one free promotions on fresh fruit or vegetables; we have extended the code life on fresh food and we donate surplus food from all our stores and distribution centre to community groups.”
Since it joined forces with FoodCloud in 2013, Tesco is now donating almost 40,000 meals a week all across Ireland.
© 2017 - Checkout Magazine by Donna Ahern
