Lochaber Chamber’s Ideas Week to hear about business food waste reduction

A presentation at this month's Lochaber Chamber's Ideas Week by Zero Waste Scotland will focus on business food waste reduction.

 

Lesley Hawkins, Lochaber Environmental Group’s Highland Community Waste Partnership Project Officer, says she is delighted Gerry Boyle, Partner at Food Systems (Hospitality) at Zero Waste Scotland (ZWS) will be delivering an interactive session on food waste reduction for businesses during the event.

 

Mr Boyle has extensive experience of working within the hospitality sector an his focus is to raise awareness about business food waste and highlight the money-saving aspects possible when reducing waste as well as the environmental impact.

 

This session is aimed at businesses and will introduce the ZWS Business Food Waste Toolkit and the tailored, individual support Mr Boyle can provide businesses if they take this up.

 

The ZWS Business Food Waste Toolkit is aimed at organisations keen to save cash and up their sustainability game by reducing food waste.

 

Ms Hawkins has been working with Reina Edmiston from the Highland Good Food partnership and Mark Gibbings from Lochaber Chamber of Commerce, as well as Mr Boyle, to bring the latter's expertise to Lochaber and introduce his work to local hospitality businesses.

 

Asked about the session and its focus, Mr Boyle explained: 'Food waste doesn’t grab the headlines as much as it should. Food waste to landfill releases methane which is much more harmful to the atmosphere than CO2.

 

'If food waste and loss were a country, it would be the third largest greenhouse gas emitter after China and the US. Food for thought there, pardon the pun.

 

'Food waste reduction may ‘seem’ to be a lower priority for your business right now but there are tangible savings to be had and, with costs increasing and margins shrinking, any cost savings would be welcomed.'

 

Businesses are invited to see and hear from Mr Boyle at Lochaber Ideas Week presented by Lochaber Chamber of Commerce and partners from Monday November 14 to Friday November 18 at the Nevis Centre, Fort William.

 

Mr Boyle's session will form part of the Sustainable Food and Drink session

 

on the afternoon of November 14.

 

More information about the event and ticket information can be found at www.lochaberchamber.co.uk/events/lochaber-ideas-week-2022/

 

Mark Gibbings, commercial manager at Lochaber Chamber of Commerce, added:

 

'Lochaber Ideas Week is an exceptional opportunity in the business event calendar to connect with Lochaber’s business network, strengthen connections and boost self and business through insightful, thought provoking and entertaining sessions.

 

'We’re excited to welcome a strong host of speakers and organisations, including Zero Waste Scotland and Highlands and Islands Enterprise on our first day.'

 

Lochaber Environmental Group is one of the eight partner organisations forming the Highland Community Waste Partnership, co-ordinated by Keep Scotland Beautiful.

 

This three-year project is aimed at reducing waste and highlighting the link between consumption, waste and climate change.

 

Georgina Massouraki, from environmental charity Keep Scotland Beautiful, partnership co-ordinator for Highland Community Waste Partnership, commented: 'Businesses have a key role to play in reducing the impact of food waste on our environment and our communities which is why the Highland Community Waste Partnership welcomes this new toolkit.

 

'We are delighted Lochaber businesses will have the opportunity to engage with, and benefit from, the toolkit and we look forward to continuing to promote and support it through the partnership.'

 

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