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Project title

The use of food waste insights to reduce food waste in commercial kitchens

Primary Funding Agency

Environmental Protection Agency

Co-Funding Organisation(s)

n/a

Lead Organisation

Positive Carbon

Lead Applicant

Aisling Kirwan

Project Abstract

Please ensure that details provided in this section are concise and self-explanatory as it is likely that they will be used in publicity material at the end of the project. Food Waste is one of the greatest environmental problems facing us today. One-third of all food that is produced globally is wasted, at a great economic, social, and environmental cost. The waste of 1.3 billion tonnes of food every year costs the global economy $750 billion, while also contributing to 10% of all greenhouse gases, to deforestation, wasted water, land, and labour. Reducing Food Waste is the single greatest solution to bring carbon out of the atmosphere. Positive Carbon is an award-winning social enterprise set up in 2020 to help tackle the staggering 1 million tonnes of food wasted in Ireland every year. The foodservice sector is responsible for 250,000 tonnes of food waste, costing €300 million to the industry per annum and resulting in 875,000 tonnes of CO2. The average commercial kitchen in Ireland spends €200,000 every year on food that ends up in the bin. Although they often know the economic and environmental costs, it can be difficult for businesses to know exactly what they can do to practically reduce their food waste. With this project, we aim to show kitchens how to prevent the wastage of the 250 most wasted foods, by providing food waste insights crafted by industry experts and available through a software platform. The EU has committed to reaching the SDG 12.3 of cutting food waste in half by 2030. We plan to be a major contributor to this goal. With our insights businesses can make significant savings to their food waste, saving hundreds of thousands on their food bills, and making the greatest leap towards their sustainability goals.

Grant Approved

�94,003.00

Research Hub

Cleaner Production - Green Enterprise - Innovation and Demonstration

Research Theme

n/a

Start Date

06/12/2021

Initial Projected Completion Date

05/05/2023