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