Tackling Food Waste With Office Catering

Every year, the UK throws away around 9.5 million tonnes of food waste. This isn’t just a missed opportunity; improper disposal leads to significant methane emissions from landfill, exacerbating climate change. Tackling food waste in the catering industry is crucial in addressing this environmental challenge

Food waste and sustainable practices are closely linked. While 70% of food waste comes from households, the hospitality and food service industry accounts for 12%. This drives the demand for eco-friendly options, and office catering companies must contribute to this effort. At Yummies Office, we’re committed to reducing food waste and promoting sustainability. Here’s how we do it.

How Yummies Office Reduces Food Waste

At Yummies Office, we carefully manage our supply chains by ordering only what is necessary, sustainable and local, wherever possible. This approach reduces unnecessary emissions and minimises excess food, without compromising on quality and taste.

Prime Meat

Our prime meat is Red Tractor certified. Our quality meat stock is fed on natural produce without growth enhancers.

Local Fish

We primarily source line-caught fish from UK waters. To prevent overfishing, we select species that are abundant.

Fresh Veg

Our vegetables come from a British greengrocer supplying Red Tractor-approved produce. Any minimal imports are Fairtrade certified.

Eco-Friendly Packaging

All of the packaging Yummies Office uses is eco-friendly and biodegradable, with cutlery made from Vegware. This is a plant-based material that’s completely compostable.

Food Waste Strategy

Sometimes, external assistance is beneficial. We’re partnering with ReFood, the UK’s number one provider of renewable energy from food waste. They collect any surplus food from our central production unit and prevent it from going to landfill or being burnt to produce energy. Instead, ReFood offers a complete closed-loop process that’s completely accountable and sustainable.

In the UK, approximately 67% of wasted food is still edible. By partnering with this reuse business, Yummies Office significantly reduces its waste, contributing towards renewable energy that everyone can enjoy.

1% for the Planet

We’re signing up to donate 1% of our annual sales to environmental organisations. 1% for the Planet is a globally recognised organisation that certifies all donations made through them. We believe in giving back to the planet, and that’s exactly why we want to show it.

This organisation is dedicated to smart environmental giving, preventing greenwashing and inspiring commitment from others at the same time. We hope that our involvement will also inspire others to be a part of something greater too.

Adaptability

Catering demands adaptability due to constantly evolving client needs, often at the last minute. Our online ordering system provides complete control over your options. Cancellations can be made up to 72 hours ahead, and amendments up to 24 hours in advance.

We work closely with our clients to prepare the exact number of individual portions needed. Since everything is made from scratch, we can adapt to last-minute changes without overhauling the entire menu. Partnering with reuse apps ensures that any surplus food doesn’t go to waste.

Outsourcing Reduces Your Environmental Impact

Any business with a kitchen or catering staff knows that food waste is a massive issue. It’s challenging to predict how many people will visit the office canteen or restaurant, leading to unavoidable leftovers and unused ingredients. While creative reuse is possible, there’s a limit to what can be done.

One effective way to reduce the environmental impact of your business’ food services is to outsource it. Office catering suppliers like us can handle the hard work while employing sustainable, responsible food practices to minimise waste. This approach also eliminates the need for in-house staff, overheads and kitchens, saving you money at the same time.

If you need a hand in reaching your sustainability goals, then look no further than Yummies Office. We do all the hard work for you, and our environmentally-friendly initiatives help you address Education for Sustainable Development and other Sustainable Development Goals. Promote healthy lives and wellbeing for your staff, alongside full and productive employment and responsible consumption and production without it costing you the Earth.