Today, environmental charity Hubbub is announcing their ambition to double the uptake of reusable cups for hot drinks. The initiative has been built using funds collected from Starbucks 5p charge on drinks purchased in a paper cup across its stores nationwide.

Currently 3 billion paper cups are used every year in the UK and it’s estimated that less than 5% of all hot drinks are sold to people bringing a reusable cup. Efforts to increase this figure have seen Starbucks shift sales in reusable cups to 5%, up from 2.2% two years ago. Hubbub plans to work with major retailers and independent coffee shops to raise this to 10% of all sales, which would see a reduction of at least 150 million paper cups a year.

Research released today by Hubbub found that Britons buy an average of 4 take away hot drinks each week, with 1 in 5 buying at least one a day. The research also found that over two-thirds (69%) of people have their own reusable coffee cup but only 1 in 6 say they remember to use them every time they buy a hot drink. The most common reason for this gap in reusable cup usage is consumers forgetting to take their cup with them when they leave home in the morning.  Hubbub also found that the number of people using reusable cups drops off during the day as people feel uncomfortable asking retail outlets to wash their cups and refill them.

Hubbub will be running a range of innovative behaviour change campaigns throughout 2020 to shift this, starting with the Grab Your Cup campaign kicking off in Manchester. As caffeine-seeking commuters return to work from the Christmas holidays, a new ear worm will be reminding them to leave home with their reusable cup. From today, music lovers in Manchester will wake up to a new jingle on radio stations, Spotify and YouTube, created by Fun Lovin’ Criminals front man, producer, BBC Radio 2 and 6 DJ and all–round legend, Huey Morgan.

Grab Your Cup aims to remind people to take their reusable cups in the morning, remove any feelings of awkwardness they may have about taking a reusable cup to a store and shift widespread behaviour by making it the norm to drink from a reusable cup. High street chains Caffe Nero, Costa, Greggs, McDonald’s and Starbucks are being joined by independent stores across Manchester to share the message and this will be supported by adverts in the heart of the city.

Results from the Manchester Grab Your Cup campaign will be assessed by an independent agency and then widely shared to inspire more ambitious reuse campaigns in other cities throughout the year.

Huey Morgan said: “Helping rid the planet of unnecessary plastic and single use coffee cups is something I feel really strongly about. My kids are always talking about it, so I was very inspired to get involved. I wanted to make a great song with an important message – hopefully something that cheers people up, gets in their heads and helps them to do their bit for the planet! So, grab your cup cos you know what’s up!”

Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham said: “In Greater Manchester we are determined to eliminate single-use plastics and we can all do our bit to make that happen.

While our cafes, hotels and restaurants all play a huge part in this, we need our residents to make responsible decisions, such as carrying and using their own reusable coffee cup rather than using a single-use one.

If we all make an effort to make these small changes, we really can make a difference.”

Gavin Ellis, Co-founder and  Director of Hubbub, said: “We’re really pleased to have Huey’s support to share the message that a reusable cup is the best environmental option for take-out teas and coffees, and it saves money too. This collaboration is a first of its kind for an environmental charity, and Huey has come up with a real ear worm which will help make sure that people remember to grab their reusable cup on the way out of the house. This is the first of a number of new approaches we’ll be testing to see if we can shift the needle on reusable cup uptake through positive and playful campaigns.”

Haley Dragem, Vice President, Public Affairs at Starbucks EMEA, said: “We’re proud to continue our work with Hubbub trialling out of store waste management solutions and raising awareness of the benefits of reuse. The Grab Your Cup campaign in Manchester is a unique way to encourage people to always carry their reusables whilst on-the-go and addresses on of the key barriers to more customer adoption. We are excited to try something new and see the kind of impact that it can have.”

More than a quarter of us have vowed to waste less Christmas food this year as a way of protecting the planet, new research released today by the environmental charity Hubbub has found.

UK homes produce on average seven million tonnes of food waste each year, while food waste is responsible for 11% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Almost a third of us admit we throw away more food at Christmas than at any other time, but this year 29% of us are adamant that our Christmas shopping will be kinder to the environment than ever before. 

A poll of more than 3,000 UK adults found that over a third of us (38%) are planning, for the first time, to buy only food we need this Christmas. Some 31% of us are intending to use up, for the first time, all our festive leftovers. Those polled said David Attenborough’s Blue Planet TV series, unseasonal weather and the declaration of a climate emergency had influenced a change in their Christmas shopping habits this year.

Party food, sprouts and roast potatoes are the festive foods we’re most likely to throw away, with turkey and gravy close behind, the survey found. 

A staggering 11% of us admit we have bought Christmas food that has gone off and been binned before Christmas day. Meanwhile, more than one in six of us end up throwing out festive food that has been sitting on the side because we’re worried it’s been out of the fridge for too long.

Tessa Tricks, Head of Food at Hubbub, said: “It is hugely encouraging to see how Christmas food shopping habits are changing this year. Christmas needn’t be any less fun when we cut down on our festive waste. In fact, it’s the opposite – this is a challenge all our family and friends can get involved in. Food waste, particularly at Christmas time, is a massive contributor to climate change and yet with a few simple steps we can dramatically reduce how much we throw away.” 

Hubbub’s top ten tips to cut your food waste this Christmas: 

1. Plan ahead – only buy enough food for the meals you’ll be cooking and the guests who will be there, and check expiry dates when you’re shopping 
2. Avoid panic buying ahead of the bank holidays – the shops are only closed for three days! 
3. If you’re having turkey, choose the size carefully – how big was last year’s and how much did you throw away? 
4. Make room in your freezer in the run up to Christmas so you have plenty of storage space and check out Hubbub’s helpful guide to what food you can freeze – it’s more than you think! https://www.hubbub.org.uk/12-freezer-friendly-foods  
5. If you’re short of fridge space at this time of year, take advantage of the cold weather and consider keeping fruit, veg and drinks fresh in a cool box outside, or even in your car boot 
6. Don’t overdo how much food you put out at one time if you’re entertaining buffet-style, and put leftovers away in the fridge rather than leave them out overnight and ending up binning them 
7. Check your fridge before travelling away from home and freeze or pass on any food that will be out of date by the time you get back 
8. Try out apps, such as OLIO, to share food with those nearby, as well as family and friends 
9. Remember that food might still be eaten after its best before date – check it looks and smells OK. Food past its best can still be enjoyed in other ways, like a healthy home-made soup to get you back on track after the excesses of Christmas  
10. Before you reach that point where you can’t take any more leftover turkey, cook up a batch of stew or curry and freeze it for January 

Festive feasting is one of the highlights of Christmas and where better to source the finest seasonal produce than London’s iconic Borough Market.  

As in previous years, Borough Market will be extending its opening hours for Christmas to ensure every visitor has the chance to enjoy it in all its festive glory. The Market will be open every day from 4th December right up until 4pm on Christmas Eve, including Sundays.  

The historic arches will be decked with beautiful decorations, local choirs will be singing carols in the Market Hall, there will be seasonal Demo Kitchens including a special appearance from the Dean of Southwark Cathedral as well as drop in Cookbook Club sessions with Angela and Ed Smith. Not forgetting the plethora of seasonal traders including mulled wine, Christmas puddings, cakes, cheeses and much more. 

One of the most popular parts of Borough Market’s festive traditions is its annual ‘An Evening of Cheese’. This year anyone looking for inspiration for their Christmas cheeseboard can visit on Wednesday 11th December between 6-8pm, where Borough Market will be holding its annual late-night shopping opportunity. The evening offers customers a chance to consult with more than 20 of Borough Market’s renowned cheesemongers and get inspired to buy a wide range of cow, goat and sheep’s milk cheese from UK and International producers.

The popular event will see cheese stalls spread across the Market with  experts on hand to offer recommendations for those looking to create a unique festive cheeseboard, advice on drinks pairings and delicious cheese recipes.  One of Borough Market’s guest chefs will also inspire visitors with a festive cheese-based cooking demonstration in the glass fronted Market Hall’s Demo Kitchen.  

Visitors to this year’s Christmas celebrations will be able to take in the newly expanded produce zone where both new and old expert traders will be selling the best fruit, vegetables, meat, fish, dairy and baked goods across both the Green Market area, as well as Three Crown Square. There will also be the opportunity to take a break from shopping for some food in the brand new Borough Market Kitchen, where people can sit at communal tables and sample foods from 20 of the Market’s diverse food traders. 

The Borough Market Kitchen will be open between 10am and 5pm (Mon-Thursday, Saturday) and 10am-6pm (Friday) and is located in Jubilee Place, the Market’s current wholesale area.  Once the kitchen closes for the day, Jubilee Place will revert back to wholesale operations. 

London’s iconic Borough Market turns 21 this November and to celebrate it is inviting communities from across the capital to come together in its new communal kitchen in a bid to combat the loneliness and social isolation that many people experience.

Research has shown that a lack of social connection has an effect on mortality comparable to that of smoking and twice as bad compared to the effect of obesity.1 Markets across the country create a unique space for economic development and social interaction in a society that is becoming increasingly insular. A local market brings diverse groups of people together to support traders from their local area, creating a sense of community and belonging.

On 19th November from 11am to 12:30pm Borough Market will be holding a community lunch with its charity partners and their beneficiaries as well as local clubs and groups. Charities FareShare, School Food Matters, PlanZheroes and United Saint Saviours will be bringing young, old and everyone in between together in the Market’s brand-new Market Kitchen, to celebrate 21years since its rebirth as a retail market and food destination.

Dr Glenn Mason, Psychologist says; “We live in a fast-paced society and fewer of us are now sitting down and having regular meals with those who are nearest and dearest to us. Eating together can have benefits upon both our emotional and physical health. It can be a time where we share experiences about our day, learn from each other’s experiences, a place to externalise our worries and concerns and to build and maintain relationships through communication. Research suggests that spending this quality time with others, over a meal, can have a positive impact upon our well-being.

In considering the benefits of communal eating this new initiative at Borough Market is likely to have a positive impact upon the emotional and physical health of those taking part. We have evolved to be part of small social groups, needing social connection and interaction to combat loneliness. I believe this initiative can raise awareness around the importance of addressing social isolation and loneliness in our lives. I think we need to take the concepts from this initiative and ensure in our own lives that we are making a conscious effort to be socially connected to others, to reduce the negative impact of loneliness.”

Borough Market has been operating in London for over 1000 years but the Market in its current form was born in November 1998, when pioneering traders such as Turnips, Brindisa and Neal’s Yard Dairy started to sell their produce directly to the public, cementing its position as a world class food destination. 21 years on and the Market is celebrating its coming of age with a brand new look.

The Borough Market Kitchen opens 13th November and will be open between 10am and 5pm (Mon-Thursday, Saturday) and 10am-6pm (Friday), it is located in Jubilee Place, the Market’s current wholesale area.  Once the kitchen closes for the day, Jubilee Place will revert back to wholesale operations.

Darren Henaghan, Managing Director, Borough Market, said: “Borough Market has long been a place for London locals and visitors alike to come together over a love of great food and so what better way to celebrate our 21st birthday than to invite people to come and sit together in our new Market Kitchen to eat and connect in a shared space. We are aware that loneliness is now not just a problem for older people but that young children and adults also suffer and so we will also be introducing a ‘buddy bench’ where people will be encouraged to share food and conversation with others.” 

London’s iconic Borough Market has teamed up with tech and logistics business Good Sixty, which focuses on independent food retailers, to create a new online market shopping experience in the capital. Advances in technology have given people the option of carrying out their weekly shopping online and Borough Market is the first UK produce market to participate in this growing trend by launching a ‘click and collect’ shopping option for customers, along with a sustainable local delivery service powered by zero emission electric bikes.  

Although steeped in tradition through its 1,000–year history, London’s oldest market has long been a pioneer of sustainable innovation – such as with the installation of its water fountains in 2017, drive to eradicate single use plastic bottles and the recent introduction (in September 2019) of compostable bags for traders to use. Driven by the vision of Borough Market’s charitable trust, and the technology developed by Good Sixty, the Market is preparing for this exciting next stage in its evolution as a provider of world-class national and international produce.   

The Market’s online shopping platform is available now for customers to order delicious produce from a wide range of participating Borough Market traders, and those that like to forward plan will also be able to book their slots for Christmas deliveries. Shoppers can visit as many of the trader pages as they wish, adding goods to a virtual shopping basket as they go. Once the order is placed, Good Sixty will gather the produce from the relevant traders and place them in a designated hub within the Market. From here, customers can either collect their order at the Market between 12pm and 9pm – perfect for London’s commuters – or it will be dispatched via state of the art zero-emission electric cargo bike to their address at a pre-booked time slot.  

At launch, the delivery service will be available to residents within a 1.5-mile radius of the Market, (please see attached map for service coverage) with a view to expanding across London in 2020. 

Darren Henaghan, Managing Director, Borough Market said: “Those who shop at Borough Market do so because they know that the produce here is high quality, sustainably sourced and often unique. While shoppers will continue to want to peruse our many market stalls – taking in the atmosphere, speaking to our knowledgeable traders and discovering something new – we are delighted to be working with Good Sixty to offer an alternative to those who for whatever reason are unable to make it down to us in person. Our online service will ensure that more people are able to regularly get hold of ingredients that they simply wouldn’t be able to find elsewhere. We have listened to what our customers want and are excited to be able to spread our wings in this way, focusing first on local customers in London, but with a view of increasing our reach later down the line.” 

Good Sixty was founded in Bristol in 2016 and it currently operates a similar service for local retailers in Bristol and Bath.  

Chris Edwards, Founder and Managing Director, Good Sixty said: “We are absolutely thrilled to be working with Borough Market. The quality and provenance of the produce is outstanding, as is the traders’ passion in what they do. The new service has been designed to reflect these qualities online, giving users real insight into each stall and the individuals behind them.  Discovering new delicacies and the traders who make the Market so special makes shopping on the platform really enjoyable.  And what is more, the service will make the Market accessible to many more, opening it up to those who love shopping there but don’t always have the time to explore it on foot. Through Good Sixty, people will be able to shop seamlessly and securely and have their favourite produce from Borough delivered directly to their door. The new platform not only helps support Borough’s independent retailers and producers but ensures the Market is ready for the future, offering Londoners an ethical way to shop online. Borough Market can become a place where more people do their weekly shop, instead of having to rely on supermarkets.  This is why we’re called Good Sixty – because research shows that every pound you spend with a local independent producer has a 60% greater benefit to your local community than spending it with a large supermarket.” 

To order unique and delicious UK and international produce from a range of Borough Market’s traders, please visit http://boroughmarket.org.uk/online.  Orders can be placed from Monday 21st October. 

Map showing 1.5 mile radius for Electric Bike Deliveries: 

Customers can visit the Borough Market/Good Sixty online ordering page to check postcode eligibility for electric bike delivery, or choose to use the click and collect service. 

Soil Association and Hubbub partner to create impactful water installation at Westfield London

We are in a climate emergency and our thirst for fashion is a big contributor, which is why Hubbub and Soil Association Certification are urging fashionistas to go organic.

On 3rd and 4th October at Westfield London, environmental campaign group Hubbub and Soil Association Certification, the UK’s largest organic certifier, will open a 3.5-metre-high installation to show shoppers how much water organic cotton saves versus non-organic cotton.

Cotton is a notoriously thirsty crop. In fact, growing cotton accounts for 69% of the water footprint of textile fibre production; just one kilogram of cotton takes as much as 10,000-20,000 litres of water to produce.

The World Economic Forum has identified water scarcity as one of the top ten global risks to society over the next ten years, yet the majority of cotton is grown in countries that are already facing severe water stress.  But there is hope. Growing cotton organically uses significantly less water than conventional cotton – up to 91% less (Textile Exchange 2014).

Organic cotton works with rather than against nature. By using natural techniques, good soil management and seed varieties that are drought resistant, and by growing in areas more suited to cotton farming that are rain-fed, rather than irrigated, organic farmers are saving precious water.

And it isn’t just in the field that organic cotton is saving water. The dyeing and finishing of non-organic textiles can require as much as 200 tonnes of water for every tonne of textiles produced. Around 20% of all global water pollution results from the dyeing and finishing of textiles.  

Fabrics carrying the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) logo have been made using low-impact dyes and inks in factories where waste water is properly treated before being released. As a result, organic cotton does not pollute water ways. And when you wash it, micro plastics don’t end up in the ocean (which happens when you wash synthetic clothes). 

The story of organic cotton doesn’t stop at water. Textiles carrying the Soil Association or the GOTS logo have been made in factories that have met strict social and environmental criteria. This means that working conditions are safe, and workers’ rights are protected.  

Choosing organic clothing can have a positive impact on people and the planet.  Visit the installation at Westfield London on the 3rd and 4th October and find out how much water growing organic cotton saves as well as the other huge environmental benefits organic cotton brings and follow the tips below for simple actions everyone can all take. 

Clare McDermott, Business Development Director, Soil Association Certification said: “We’re in a climate emergency and awareness of the damaging impact of the fashion industry has never been higher. People want more sustainable clothing options and retailers need to step up and play their part by making options like organic more available in store.

“Our activation at Westfield London is a light-hearted way of doing something serious. Hopefully we can engage shoppers with the benefits of choosing organic and show retailers that there is a real demand for clothing options that reduce the impact of the fashion industry as the organic textiles market continues to grow.” 

Sarah Divall from Hubbub said: “The call for a more sustainable fashion industry has never been louder and encouraging people to make easy switches when they do buy something new, like to organic cotton, can make a real difference. Hubbub is committed to making the fashion industry better for the planet and making it easier for shoppers to make the right choices. This installation is a great way to show brands and customers at Westfield what they can do to make their stores and wardrobes more sustainable.”

Myf Ryan, CMO Europe and Group Director of Brand and Strategic Marketing for Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, said: “We are delighted to welcome Soil Association and Hubbub as partners to launch their campaign to educate and champion organic cotton. Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield continues to positively shape a sustainable positioning and working strategically with expert partners to deliver experiences that can make a difference, and be front of mind for the high-volume of visitors we see at the centres every day.” 

Act now! Together we can make the world of difference 

• Change the way you shop: Look for organic cotton when clothes shopping, if you need something new. Look for the Global Organic Textile Standard and Organic Content Standard logo on the label. Shop from Soil Association certified organic brands and discover other brands and retailers stocking organic on the Good On You website or app

• Ask your favourite brands to go organic: Want your favourite brands to stock more organic cotton? Tweet a message (use link that the SA is using) and tag in your favourite labels, asking them to stock more #OrganicForThePlanet @SoilAssociation

• Share: 39% of people* say they care about the environment, but it’s never occurred to them that their clothes might have an impact. Help us spread the word to your friends – share @SoilAssociation’s social media posts using the hashtag # OrganicForThePlanet

• Stock it: Are you a brand or retailer? Find out why organic textiles are good for business here 

London’s iconic Borough Market is celebrating the best of British harvest time this October half term (Thursday 24th – Saturday 26th October). In line with the Market’s commitment to sustainability and reducing food waste, Londoners are invited to take part in an ‘Apple Amnesty’ and bring in fruit from their gardens, allotments and school yards, as well as any sitting in fridges and fruit bowls that might otherwise go to waste, for a Borough Market led community cider and apple juice initiative.

Borough Market will be celebrating the UK’s rich harvest heritage over the three days from 11am – 4pm in the glass fronted Market Hall.  Displays will highlight the enormous number of different varieties of apple, squash and other harvest produce available as well as showing visitors the joy of ‘growing your own’ and providing plenty of Autumnal family friendly entertainment. As part of Borough Market’s drive to reduce food waste, there will also be live daily cookery demos showing how to cook up delicious dishes from the season’s haul of fruit and vegetables, including top tips on what to do with surplus.

During the Harvest Celebrations, visitors will be able to watch apples being turned into juice and hear how this will then be made into cider from Borough Market trader, The Cider House. The cider and juice will be available to buy from the Market in April 2020, with profits going towards supporting Borough Market’s community projects. Anyone who brings a pound of apples in for the community pot will receive a ‘£ for a pound’ token, entitling them to money off when the cider and juice are on sale early next year. 

There will be a wide range of activities throughout the celebration for the whole family, including demo kitchens from 1-2.30pm each day with Borough Market regular chefs: Angela Clutton (Thursday), Kate Young (Friday) and Luke Mackay with Beca Lyne Pirkis (Saturday). For children on half term break there will be a story orchard and demonstrations from fruit and vegetable trader Turnips on pumpkin carving – just in time for Halloween. On Friday (25th) Borough Market’s ‘Young Marketeers’ (children from local schools), will be selling their school-grown Harvest produce for food waste charity FareShare. Borough Market’s traders will of course be selling fresh, seasonal and sustainable Autumnal produce.

The celebrations will be kicked off by a short act of harvest worship at Borough Market on Thursday 24th, led by neighbouring Southwark Cathedral.

Darren Henaghan, Managing Director, Borough Market said, “Borough Market is a place where you can really feel the change of seasons, and the arrival on the stalls of the autumn harvest is such an exciting time of year. Our Harvest Celebration will give the community the chance to gather together to mark this moment, as they have done throughout the centuries. We’re looking forward to welcoming families to our story orchard and seeing what the Young Marketeers have managed to produce in their school gardens. Our community cider and apple juice initiative will really capture the twin elements of fresh, local produce and public participation—we can’t wait to make something seasonal and sustainable with a little help from all of our friends.”

Mary Louise Topp from The Cider House London gives her ‘Topp’ tips on storing apples and making juice/cider: 

Storing Apples 

For cider, we don’t like our apples polished! There will be an element of natural yeast on the skins of the apples and by rubbing them to polished perfection you will be taking all those airborne, natural yeasts with it, and they are vital for kickstarting our ferment. All that’s needed is a quick dunk in clean water and a gentle dry with a soft cloth.

Ultimately you want to be keeping the apples dry and with a good airflow, so do not store in plastic bags. After you have got all the apples nice and dry, store in an open cardboard box or wooden crate. Keep an eye on them for a couple of days, apples that have split or are badly bruised are likely to start to rot and that will spread through the whole harvest.

Making juice and cider: 

One of our secrets to getting a great tasting juice is to leave the mashed pulp a few hours or overnight and then press the following day. This allows all the pectin to break down in the apples resulting a fruitier, juicier pulp ready for juicing. 

Cider can take as little as thirteen weeks to fully ferment, however, we like to wait a little longer. We follow the old rule ’never drink the cider until you hear the first Cuckoo calling’ We like to be patient and allow the juice to fully finish its ferment and rest. We won’t touch a drop until we hear her sing in mid- April.

Borough Market’s three day Harvest Celebrations will run from 11am – 4pm in the Market Hall from Thursday 24th October until Saturday 26th October. For more information on the apple sellers and where to buy the cider at Borough Market visit http://boroughmarket.org.uk/ 

This weekend (31^st May and 1^st June), London’s iconic Borough Market is showcasing traders and social enterprises who are innovators and disrupters in their field, at its Food Futures Market.

Borough Market has long been committed to working with its traders to identify and support a more sustainable way of shopping and living for its customers. The traders joining the historic Market Hall this weekend highlight the pioneering spirit that Borough Market embraces and supports. These innovators are at the forefront of a new generation of high quality, ethical and environmentally friendly food, drink and household products. 

Featured traders for the Food Futures Market include innovative stalls from London based Breadwinners, who provide training and jobs for refugees across their London farmers market stalls and Storimarket, the world’s first farm-to-fork trade platform for smallholder farmers. Storimarket connects ethical and sustainable smallholder farmers and producers in Africa with customers in a way that rewards farmers for producing food that builds their community and cares for the environment. Zero waste, vegan, toxin free cleaning and household products will also be available from Green Boutique. 

Sustainable food will be available from Hackney based vegan cheesemongers, I AM NUT OK. Vegan and gluten free nut butters by Jake’s Boost. Raw fermented nut cream cheeses handcrafted in Crystal Palace by Palace Culture. Nutritional and delicious snacks by Oh Lily! made from water lily seeds which have been used for centuries in ayurveda medicine for their nutritional value. Push chocolate, which is vegan and free from dairy, gluten, nuts and refined sugar. BEASTFAST make delicious granola with gluten free oats and free from refined sugar. myTEA is Mighty! make plant based ready meals, free-from gluten, nuts, palm oil and pesticides. 

Drink traders include Binary Botanica, whose ground-breaking infusion of hop leaves and wine yeast make a vegan and gluten free ‘table beer’. Mitch’s Kitchen will be providing natural, vegan tea lattes real-brewed with Fairtrade tea leaves and organic ingredients.  

From sandwich boxes, to crisps and napkins, British workers’ ‘lunch on the go’ habit is generating 10.7 billion items of packaging waste annually – 276 items per person – according to new research from environmental charity Hubbub.

The research of over 1,200 UK full and part-time workers revealed they use an average of four packaging items for each lunch purchase, with 76% picking up a main item e.g. sandwich container, 70% a packet of snacks and 65% a napkin. With the majority (64%) saying they buy lunch on the go more now than they did five years ago – spending 13.6 billion annually – this is naturally leading to an increase in packaging waste, much of which isn’t recycled or recyclable. The rise in eating out is partly down to the fact life has got busier (26%) and also because of the UK’s evolving food culture, with 20% of workers saying there are more places to eat out now and 19% saying eating out is more tempting these days. 

To help create a new culture of meal planning and reusable lunch packaging that reduces food and plastic waste, Hubbub, in collaboration with Norfolk and Suffolk Councils, have launched a new campaign, #FoodSavvy Lunch Club. It is encouraging people across the UK to get involved and rethink their own lunch habits by visiting www.foodsavvy.org.uk to take a quiz and find tips on how to plan their lunch meals to save time, packaging and money. 

The #FoodSavvy Lunch Club was trialled in March 2019 in East Anglia with businesses Aviva, AXA, Environment Agency and BT, challenging a total of 50 employees to go for a month without using single use packaging at lunch time. Supported by Hubbub, participants were given a #FoodSavvy Savings Guide, which provided them with the golden rules for reducing packaging and food waste.   

The businesses followed a three-week meal plan packed with simple, healthy, sustainable meals and were challenged to make their own meals for the trial’s final week. Results were encouraging – of the employees taking part, 83% said the Lunch Club helped them reduce their single use plastics, with participants on average reducing their usage by 54%. Food waste was reduced by approximately 52% per participant and 67% said the trial had helped them to save money. Challenge participants and local eateries also took part in a pilot BYO Tupperware scheme, Take Away, Give Back where they received a small incentive for bringing their own packaging.   

Hubbub is also now inviting businesses and employees to take part by registering their interest via campaigns@hubbub.org.uk. Cafes and local businesses can get in touch to join Take Away, Give Back and receive artwork and resources to support customers to bring their own containers. 

Trewin Restorick, CEO of Hubbub said: “’Lunch-on-the-go’ items create huge levels of waste and unfortunately much of this isn’t recyclable as it’s made from mixed materials or isn’t recycled due to contamination from food residue. By planning lunches in advance and using up items in your fridge you can massively reduce the amount of packaging you use while saving money by cutting down on food waste – in the UK we could save £58 million a day just by making our own lunches.iv If you do buy lunch on the go, don’t be shy – take along your own container to your favourite lunch spot. We’d encourage anyone wanting to get involved in the campaign to visit the Food Savvy website and we’d love more businesses to take on the challenge too – just register your interest on the Hubbub website.” 

The #FoodSavvy Lunch Club is part of a wider #FoodSavvy initiative which is designed to tackle food waste and launched in September 2018. For more information on the #FoodSavvy campaign, visit the #FoodSavvy website.