Reducing waste is a hot topic in Government, but Rugby MP Mark Pawsey has gone one step further thanks to an innovative new app to cut down food waste.
Developed and trialled by technology company Winnow alongside Sainsbury’s supermarket, the app allows users to track and weigh the food items they’re throwing away, along with the reasons for doing so. These include food spoiling, over-portioning, or burning whilst preparing food. It then produces a report highlighting both the financial cost of the waste and how it could be cut down.
Mark has been part of an initial trial of the app alongside other politicians and families. It is hoped that the app could help to reduce the 7 million tonnes of food waste produced by UK households each year, which costs families up to £700. The initial results from have shown that using the app can help reduce food waste by over 60%, not only saving money but also helping to save the environment.
Mark said:
“It’s really eye opening to be shown how much food waste you are producing. I was very surprised to see just how much food can be wasted, with the app providing a great way to think carefully about how much food you are consuming. The app not only gives an indication of the environmental impact, but also the massive cost to hard working families due to wasted food.”
Mark continued:
“One of the areas we can look at to tackle food waste is by improving food packaging. I know from my time running a business in Rugby about the important role good packaging can play in improving food’s longevity. In my role as Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group for the Packing Manufacturing Industry I am regularly in contact with representatives of the industry and I know this is an area they are keen to improve.”
Mark concluded:
“I hope that the use of technology such as this app will encourage more families to use leftovers, rather than simply throwing food away. Many people don’t realise is that food waste is often disposed in landfills creating significant environmental concerns. In my own household we saw some interesting results and I am confident that this technology could benefit many other families, as well as the wider community.”