During the first half of 2022, Iceland Foods redistributed over 2.2 million meals to local communities.
Reducing food waste is a high priority for Iceland – particularly as the cost of living crisis worsens. Whether this be helping its customers, colleagues, or the communities surrounding the stores, Iceland is growing its initiatives and increasing its number of partnerships to ensure food redistribution.
Central to this is Iceland’s partnership with Olio, the UK’s number one local sharing app, which has helped Iceland offer free meals and support to families throughout the cost of living crisis. Through Iceland’s partnership with Olio, surplus food is re-distributed – thanks to the help of Olio’s ‘Food Waste Hero’ volunteers.
The partnership with Olio has made food redistribution convenient for customers, as people can download the app and find food items nearing their end of shelf life – completely free of charge.
Stuart Lendrum, Head of Packaging, Quality and Food Safety at Iceland Foods, said: “At Iceland we’re committed to do ‘doing it right’ and we’re really proud that we’ve been able to support so many people and communities through our food redistribution efforts. Food waste is a growing issue in the UK and cannot be ignored – particularly during the cost of living crisis. At Iceland we are doing our very best to make sure no one goes hungry, whilst contributing towards a circular economy.”
Iceland does not send unsold food to landfill and is committed to offering it free of charge to customers or colleagues. Iceland is a proud signatory to the Courtald Commitment 2030 – this has brought together organisations across the food and drink industry to reduce the environmental impact of food and drink.
Iceland is also a signatory to the WRAP/IGD Food Waste Roadmap and signed up to the Government’s ‘Step Up To The Plate’ pledge in May 2019. All of these commitments are in line with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals, and Iceland has set its own goal of reducing food and drink waste by 50% by 2030.
Read more about Iceland’s mission to tackle food waste here: https://sustainability.iceland.co.uk/our-planet/food-waste/
