Marks & Spencer is helping shoppers in Manchester reduce household food waste as part of its Plan A commitments at a one off event, Salad Days, taking place in Manchester.
Locals are invited to attend the Salad Days event on Saturday 22nd August between 11am and 4pm at St Ann’s Square. Visitors will be able to take part in interactive activities and watch chefs demonstrate how to make the most out of every day food purchases.
The event will offer support and tips on use by dates, packaging, along with useful recipes to use up leftovers, particularly salad ingredients that are often left languishing in fridges during the summer months. Locals will also be asked to make pledges to reduce their own waste.
In conjunction with Love Food Hate Waste, Salad Days aims to show the impact small behavioural changes can make in reducing food waste. On the day, a number of activities will be running, including cookery demonstrations for adults and children, a smoothie bike which will be using surplus fruit and vegetables to create delicious smoothies, and a food confession booth for locals to share their food waste faux pas.
Louise Nicholls, M&S’s Head of Responsible Sourcing, Packaging and Plan A, said: “We are really excited to bring Salad Days to Manchester with Love Food Hate Waste. At M&S, we are working hard to reduce food waste and we want to inspire our customers to get involved too.
“The aim of the day is simple – to help the people of Manchester reduce their food waste. Research shows the average person in Greater Manchester could save £200 a year simply by not throwing away good food and drink – rising to £700 for a family. Whether you’re in the city centre for a shopping trip, a day out or just for a browse, this event will give couples, families and students alike an insight into how they can adapt their cooking and buying habits to reduce waste and save money.”
Emma Marsh, Head of Love Food Hate Waste, agreed “We’re delighted to be working with M&S on this fantastic initiative to help the residents of Greater Manchester reduce their food waste. When we throw away food we are not just wasting the food, but also the resources such as energy, fuel, time and water that went into growing, harvesting, storing, transporting and cooking it. ”
“Then it produces methane if buried in landfill sites. If we stopped wasting this good food and drink it would have the same positive environmental benefit as taking 1 in 4 cars off our roads. It’s that important. Salad Days will demonstrate just how easy it is for each and every one of us to get involved and play our part in tackling this issue.”
Salad Days will take place between 11am and 4pm on Saturday 22nd August. The event is free. To find our more visit https://www.hubbub.org.uk/Event/salad-days
