What can businesses do?

There are many ways businesses and organisations can make changes to reduce food waste and food miles, and support the principles in the Nottinghamshire Food Charter. Here are a few examples:

• include food in your strategic and business plans
• procure sustainable, local, and responsibly sourced food/ingredients to reduce transport greenhouse gas emissions and support local farmers and the community
• provide opportunities to grow food at work
• create opportunities for local people to try, taste and buy local food
• donate unused food to local organizations like charities, food banks, or homeless shelters. Visit Notts Help Yourself for information on local food banks
• support community food projects through staff volunteering opportunities
• adopt a policy to not endorse high fat/sugar/salt food products
• promote national healthy eating campaigns within your workplace
• increase access to healthy food and drinks in canteens and where possible sign up to the Healthy Options Takeaway scheme
• use planning powers to prevent fresh food deserts and fast-food swamps
• reduce energy consumption by investing in energy-efficient appliances
• use sustainable packaging and promote reusable containers
• adopt measures to reduce food waste and unnecessary packaging from the whole supply chain.