BBPA partners with WRAP to help pubs reduce food waste

The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) is inviting pubs to find out how to save money and become more sustainable through tackling food waste at a free webinar hosted in partnership with the Waste Resources and Action Programme (WRAP). 

Marking Hospitality Day and International Food Loss and Waste Day on 29th September, the two organisations are teaming up to provide insight and guidance to help pubs make small tweaks for a big impact. 

Each year, hospitality businesses in the UK waste 1.1 million tonnes of food costing £3.2bn. However, 75% of that waste is avoidable.

The webinar will give businesses simple steps to save money and be kinder to the environment, as well as an overview of WRAP’s Guardians of Grub free resources which supports businesses to baseline and track their food waste reduction. 

Nicola Underwood, food support manager, Daniel Thwaites, said: “It was really straightforward to get the project started. The tools from the Guardians of Grub website were easy to use and we only invested in a set of luggage scales, some clear bin bags and clear plastic tubs and we were ready to go. 

“The chefs started to see results come through immediately which helped the project to gain momentum and deliver some staggering results. It’s been such a success we have rolled Guardians of Grub out to our entire managed estate (24 sites).”

In addition to saving money, the reduction of food waste helps businesses to become greener in their operations because for every kilo of food waste 3.39 of CO2 equivalent is generated, the same as if you were travelling 3 miles to the pub in an SUV. 

Hugh Jones, specialist – food waste prevention at WRAP, said: “We are delighted to be working with the BBPA following a significant increase in the pub sector’s interest in becoming even more sustainable. September 29th sees the industry celebrate National Hospitality Day and also marks International Day of Food Loss and Waste so this is the perfect time to take action. 

“Guardians of Grub are here to help to shape a sustainable future for the sector and rise up against the 1.1 million tonnes of food thrown away by the Hospitality and Food Service industry every year. Let’s unite in the fight against food waste, and protect profits and the planet.” 

The joint webinar, is one of a number of ways the BBPA is supporting WRAP’s food waste reduction initiatives, with the BBPA’s CEO Emma McClarkin also an ambassador for their Guardians of Grub campaign.  

Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the BBPA: “Teaming up with WRAP for Hospitality Day and Food Loss and Waste Day just makes sense. This session will help businesses across our sector to understand food waste better and see where cost savings can be made quickly and easily.  

“As a sector we are committed to making our businesses as sustainable as possible, sometimes people think this has to mean big changes, but what WRAP’s work shows us is that a small change can make a big difference and we’re really looking forward to supporting them and their work to take the fight against food waste even further.”