Cambridgeshire refill shop share top tips to save on Christmas food waste

Food that's not been eaten has cost a family £1,000 per year

Families are being urged to cut down on food waste over the Christmas-New Year period
Author: Dan MasonPublished 29th Dec 2023

A Cambridgeshire couple are urging people to be more sustainable over the Christmas-New Year period.

It comes as climate action group WRAP found it costs a family of four £1,000 a year in food that's bought but not eaten.

Martin and Sarah Cooper from the Refill Shop of Ikigai in St Ives, have these ideas to help people being greener:

"There are great apps like Olio, a food sharing app so if you've got something you're not going to eat but still worth eating, you can find someone who can take it off you rather than throwing it in the bin," said Martin.

"Planning meals better is a good way of doing that, making sure everything in the fridge is used before going out to buy more and not only does it help the environment, it saves people money," said Sarah.

WRAP also found out of the 6.4 million tonnes of food and drink thrown away in 2021, more than two-thirds could have been eaten.

While overbuying food at Christmastime could also be leading to more food waste.

Martin wants families to enjoy themselves, but making sure they do so efficiently.

"People see adverts on the TV and maybe they want a lavish lunch, and that's fine, enjoy what you can; buying excess isn't helping that enjoyment, but creating waste," he said.

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