Pandemic drives British brands to help consumers cut food waste

It’s hard to find positives amidst a global pandemic but if ever there was one, it’s that Britons have become increasingly mindful of the impact of food waste. As a sense of scarcity drives people to adopt ‘food smart’ habits, there’s a new opportunity for brands to emotionally bond with consumers on a subject they really care about. From boutique brands to large institutions like Unilever, the last year has seen a rise in businesses taking new initiatives to tap into the food waste market and resonate with consumers through food-saving products, services and education.

According to a survey¹ by the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP), 37% of people say they’re increasingly making meals from random ingredients, 30% are saving leftovers for the next day, and 47% check what’s in their cupboards before going to the shops. Plus, 43% of adults² in the UK say they’re eating and cooking at home more than before Covid-19.

However, one third of food produced for human consumption is still wasted and 900 million tonnes is thrown away every year, with more than 40% of this waste occurring in the home. Despite the rising consumer concerns around food waste, there is still a knowledge gap, with people not always being sure of the best ways to reduce waste. “Food waste reduction is a pivotal space in which brands can play a positive, practical and emotional role in consumer’s lives…” says Andy Brattle, Director at Beyond, partner agency to Feel-Good Brands.

So which brands are already tapping into the market to help consumers reduce food waste and how are they doing it?

“Tackling food waste is a triple win. It’s good for people, for the planet and it’s good for business.” — Christina, Bauer-Plank, Global Brand Vice President of Hellman’s.

Unilever | product innovation

This year Unilever outlined ambitious plans to halve food waste by 2025 as part of its wider social and environmental ambitions. “Tackling food waste is a triple win – it’s good for people, for the planet and it’s good for business” says Christina, Bauer-Plank, Global Brand Vice President of Hellman’s.

Amongst improving the farm to shelf journey, educating suppliers and committing to reusable, recyclable and compostable packaging, Hellman’s ‘Easy-out technology’ is just one small example of the cooperation’s large efforts to reduce food waste.

How many times do you shake a Hellman’s Mayonnaise squeezable bottle before you give up on the last dregs? Inspired by an understanding of consumer interactions with the product, the new easy-out technology coats the bottle with vegetable oil so that almost every bit of mayonnaise flows out easily. Where this technology has been trialled so far, it has resulted in a 25% reduction in waste. Genius!

Toast Ale | brand collaboration

‘Raise a Toast. Save the World. Cheers!’

Toast Ale has been in the business of tackling food waste since it was founded in 2015. By transforming leftover bakery bread into beer, it saves tonnes of CO² from entering the atmosphere whilst also using less land and water than conventional beer companies. Not only this, but it also donates all profits to charity to fund changes that will help to create a fairer and less wasteful food system.

“Your label is one of the best assets you have. Consumers take around 5-7 seconds to make a purchase decision in store, so the label serves to capture the attention of shoppers as well as provide useful information regarding the product." — Paul, Creative Director, Beyond.

In its latest ‘Rise Up’ campaign, aimed at raising awareness of the global food system in the lead up to the 2021 UN Climate Change Conference, the B Corp beer brand is releasing a series of limited-edition beers. Brewed in collaboration with B Corp brands Divine Chocolate, teapigs, Hobbs House Bakery, ODDBOX, Rebel Kitchen, Rubies in the Rubble and Cafédirect. From Rise Up for Forests with Divine Chocolate to Rise Up for Rivers with Hobbs House Bakery, each campaign beer label highlights a different element of the ecological crisis and the systemic change needed in our food system to tackle climate change and biodiversity loss. The campaign website and brand social media accounts also asks consumers to take action by supporting other B Corps, reducing waste and even writing to your local MP.

COOK | acts of kindness

Prepared food brand COOK is a nourishing B Corp business, setting high standards for social and environmental performance, accountability and transparency. From using 100% renewable electricity in its shops and kitchens to helping people into work after prison or homelessness, COOK really does use business as a force for good.

In 2016 COOK installed an end-to-end food waste system which captures and stores food waste from its kitchens. The food waste is then collected to be turned into a nutrient rich bio-fertilizer for farming and renewable energy that is exported to the National Grid.

During the height of the pandemic COOK put aside free meals in its shops for customers looking after vulnerable neighbours. These Random Acts of Kindness grew into the COOK Kindness Fund, which is now a permanent part of its work. As of March 2021, it had given away over 200,000 meals working with hospitals, care homes, food banks and local community groups to help those struggling due to the Covid-19 crisis.

Through innovation, care for its community and a true commitment to improving its social and environmental impact, COOK has a strong bond with its customers across the UK, which only continues to increase. You can hear more about COOK’s initiatives with James Rutter – Chief Creative Officer in the Brand Talks podcast.

OLIO | community advocacy

OLIO is an app-driven, food-sharing venture. The brand is reducing waste by encouraging people and businesses to exchange surplus food, books and clothes. To date, more than two million people have downloaded the app, and upwards of five million food portions of food have been exchanged.

Before embarking on building an app, co-founders Tessa Clarke and Saasha Celestial-One decided to trial the concept via Whatsapp first. After completing a market survey, they invited 12 people, who had expressed their concern about food waste to a closed Whatsapp group, and asked them to share surplus food among each other for 2 weeks. It was a huge success and so the OLIO app was born! Central to its success, the business has continued to keep community at its core.

OLIO continues to grow, empowered by over 50,000 volunteers. From Community Heroes and Food Waste Heroes to Squad Captains and Digital Ambassadors, OLIO educates and empowers people across 49 different countries to do their bit in reducing food waste and helping their communities.

OLIO also has a Twitter account to share user stories, empowering people to become active advocates for the platform. The brand uses other social media accounts to educate and empower community members too.

“Community advocacy is more powerful than ever.” — Laura Williams, Brand Strategist, Beyond.

In August 2020 OLIO ventured into TV advertising, and it’s focus on community remains unchanged. The 30” TV spot aimed to make the most of the sense of community many have felt during the pandemic and show how easy it is to reduce waste and share with neighbours. The animated ad tells the story of two neighbours with common problems: Meghan has unwanted food and wants to clear space in her cupboards. Meanwhile, Ella could make good use of her neighbour’s unwanted ingredients. Enter OLIO, a simpler solution to throwing unwanted things. The ad ends with the brand strapline ‘It feels good to share’.

“Community advocacy is an extension of that age-old word-of-mouth marketing tactic. But today, community advocacy is more powerful than ever. Purpose-led brands need to empower their communities. People are calling out for change and they desperately want to feel like they are playing a part in it.” Said Laura, Brand Strategist at Beyond.

Food waste is a global problem and consumers expect businesses to play a pivotal role in solving this challenge. Whether through brand partnerships, community initiatives or educational campaigns, there is a strong opportunity for brands to educate and empower consumers in this space, forming long-lasting consumer-brand relationships.

Is your brand tackling food waste? We’d love to hear about your initiatives!