CHEFS are being offered a free app to help them keep track of the food waste in their kitchens and better assess how to reduce it.
The technology has been developed by Unilever Food Solutions as part of its “United Against waste” campaign to help reduce the waste created by caterers and foodservice companies and save money.
The “Wise up on Waste” app allows chefs to track food waste over a pre-selected number of days to highlight the average waste generated over time and per cover. It then generates e-mail summaries showing performance against the industry average and progress graphs. The app also provides advice on how to manage customer plate waste.
WRAP research also published today, June 4th, shows that consumers are finding large portions off-putting with side dishes a significant contributor to increasing levels of leftovers. Each tonne of food waste buried in landfill can cost up to £1,800 according to figures from WRAP.
“Small actions multiplied by millions of chefs can make a huge difference to the environment,” said UFS managing director Tracey Rogers. “The app has been designed to make it as easy as possible for chefs to ensure food is not being wasted in the kitchen. With over 88% of chefs in the industry using mobile apps, we know it’s the best way to engage with them and create the biggest impact,” she added.
Rogers also announced a series of targets to contribute to those set by its parent company in the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan. For instance, in the next 12 months it has committed to help chefs achieve at least a 5% reduction in food waste. This is line line with the voluntary agreement on food waste, launched by WRAP last year.
