In recent times, production of food in developed countries has regularly exceeded demand. Today, reports suggest that between one third and one half of all food produced worldwide is wasted. Even as early as 2012, 5.8 million tons of food waste was produced in the UK alone (Statista Research Department).
When we throw away food, we also throw away the precious resources that went into producing this food. This includes the use of land and natural resources, the social cost to the environment, and our biodiversity. Food waste accounts for one-third of all human-caused greenhouse gas emissions and generates 8% of greenhouse gases annually. With these statistics in place, there is a huge need to reduce this environmental footprint.
Earth.org
Fighting food waste is part of what we do, and we do this regularly in a number of ways:
- Every week, the evening before our regular community larders, teams of FEAST volunteers visit supermarkets in and around the area to collect their excess and near date food. This is foodstuffs that would otherwise be thrown away.
- Additionally, the day before the larders, we have FareShare deliveries. FareShare is a UK-wide network of charitable food redistributors, comprised of 18 independent organisations. Good quality surplus food is taken from across the food industry and delivered to some 8,500 frontline charities and community groups.
- Wherever possible, we encourage organisations and individuals locally to donate food that might otherwise go to waste.
In 2023 we estimate that we saved £89,500 of food from going to waste.
How FEAST works
We are a registered charity with a board of Trustees, committed to helping those in food poverty in our area.
FEAST has no paid staff and relies on the generosity of our supporters (organisations, local groups, and individuals) and our volunteers (who are so generous with their time).
Our journey
FEAST began in the summer of 2018 with our very first school holiday family lunch.
Today, we are supporting over 300 local families with our larders, whilst continuing to offer school holiday lunches with activities for children, special events such as cookery lessons, and lunches for individuals and couples.