Wastage of food is a chronic problem – we’re committed to reducing it

During 2006-2007, Musgrave trialled a recovery programme for food waste that presented an opportunity to recover 95 per cent of all waste food collected. It was a huge success.

As biodegradable waste decomposes within landfill sites, it generates leachate and methane, a greenhouse gas far more powerful than carbon dioxide. It is estimated that one tonne of food waste in landfill generates 4.5 tonnes of CO2-equivalent emissions.

Wastage of food at consumer level is a chronic problem. According to WRAP (the UK’s Waste & Resources Action Programme), one third of food bought in the UK is thrown away, most of it simply unused when it could have been eaten. Householders also cook and prepare too much, resulting in an additional 1.6 million tonnes of food waste a year.

Musgrave Group is a signatory to the Courtauld Commitment, brokered by WRAP in 2005, which commits it to working towards reducing consumer food waste, as well as packaging. The company is also taking a leading role, in conjunction with the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government, to develop a similar commitment in Ireland.

In order to address food waste generated at Musgrave’s facilities and those of its retail partners, it contracted Food Surplus Management Limited (FSM) to further its food waste diversion targets. FSM now manages the recovery and recycling of short-dated and out-of-date products and packaging.

FSM’s state-of-the-art plants enable 95 per cent recovery of all food collected for the pet food, animal food and bio-diesel industries. Unlike many other food waste management options, such as composting, there are no low-grade residues that need to be consigned to landfill.