Launched today our report, Counting What Matters explores the potential for food waste audits to significantly reduce waste in the food supply chain.

Households are usually blamed for the UK’s food waste mountain, but the reality is that the food industry is responsible for generating over half of the 18-20 million tonnes of food wasted every year.  Attempts to control waste associated with the production, processing, transport and sale of food have been hampered by lack of transparent data on where, how and why waste happens in the supply chain.

We believe a requirement for large food businesses to audit food waste would close this knowledge gap and strengthen preventative policies and action. Our research shows that there is more support for the proposal from the industry than previously believed.

Industry food waste is an issue in need of urgent action, yet report findings show there is a need for further research into the shape and implementation of audit. In light of this, We make three key recommendations for immediate action;

• Strengthen existing voluntary agreements, including Courtauld Commitment 3 – apply separate targets for industry food waste, implement a pathway to whole supply chain engagement and longer-term reduction targets in line with the EC’s call to halve food waste by 2020

• Pave the way for regulation if voluntary agreements fail – the government needs a transparent back-up plan if industry fails to deliver

• Strengthen citizen engagement and improve debate – there is a need for wider more participative discussion on where responsibility for food waste lies and what steps different actors should take in reducing it.

Dear Creatives,

This is Rubbish is hopping and a skipping on tour this year to a few events running a
food waste cafe, La Wasterie and afternoon feasts, with a 3 course menu of rubbish and
educational activity on offer.

This is Rubbish’s La Wasterie
Hungry for change? Drop into This is Rubbish’s La Wasterie cafe to feast on industry
food waste and glean insight into the world of edible excess. Dedicated to learning by
doing, La Wasterie will be running a mouthwatering menu for both belly and mind.

We are looking for an inspired menu artist to design the typography and artwork of our
menu’s of activity. These will be painted onto A frame Blackboards, and turned into B&W
promotional posters to be put around the communities within which we are delivering our
workshops and feasts.

We have a large marketing and media list, so you’re work will be widely publicised, and
you will become known for working with the best rubbish in town!

Nearer the time we will be calling for a troupe of characters who want to help serve up
the ‘rubbish’, maybe sing a song, recite a story and generally help make the feasts a
theatrical spectacular.

Everyone involved is invited to the This is Rubbish team working weekend to create all
the games, props, costumes etc, and of course have some wonderful gleaned meals,
Friday 7th – Sunday 9th June.

If you are interested please contact poppyflint@gmail.com by the 17th May 2013, with
prior examples of your work, link to your website etc.
The first event is Saturday 22nd June at Appetite 2013 in Walthamstow.

Counting What Matters Launch schedule

1.00-1.10:    Guests arrive

1.10 – 1.15: Welcome and intro to event and schedule

1.15 – 1.25: Intro to TiR, key values and objectives

1.25-1.30: Short film

1.30 – 1.35: Intro to IFWAP

1.35 – 1.45: Overview of methodology and findings

1.45 – 1.50: Introduction to speakers and the questions they’re addressing

1.50 – 2.05: Geoff Tansey; Going Beyond Business as Usual

2.05 – 2.20: Keith Riley: You are what you eat – so understand what you throw away

2.20 – 2.35: Q & A: speakers plus Beth Stuart and Martin Bowman

2.35 – 2.40: Overview of key policy proposals & TiR’s future campaign and research plans

2.40-2.55: Networking and Q&A

2.55: End