An ethical discussion on food waste created by supermarkets.

Critical analysis of the problem and possible solutions.

Emerging new business models and trends in response to the problem.

“Material, usually of plant or animal origin, that contains or consists of essential body nutrients, such as carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, or minerals, and is ingested and assimilated by an organism to produce energy, stimulate growth, and maintain life”

dictionary.com

Definition of ‘waste’

"any substance or object which the holder disposes of or is required to dispose of pursuant to the provisions of national law in force“

(European Commission, 1975)

Definition of ‘food waste’

"Uneaten food and food preparation wastes from residences and commercial establishments such as grocery stores, restaurants, and produce stands, institutional cafeterias and kitchens, and industrial sources like employee lunchrooms“

(United States Environmental Protection Agency)

• Eliminating the millions of tonnes of food thrown away annually in the US and UK could lift more than a billion people out of hunger worldwide.

(Vaughan, 2009)

• Food Ethics Council argue that excessive consumption of food in rich countries inflates food prices in the developing world.
• Food waste also costs UK consumers £10.2bn a year and when production, transportation and storage are factored in, it is responsible for 5% of the UK's greenhouse gas emissions.
• Food waste costs every household in the UK between £250 and £400 a year.

(Vaughan, 2009)

• Food waste remains primarily disposed to landfill (54 per cent of total municipal waste in 2007/8)
• Composting – biodegradation of organic material with the presence of oxygen
• Anaerobic Digestion – AD reduces emissions of Landfill gases to atmosphere – no presence of oxygen
• Incinerating waste to energy (criticism: it encourages producing waste)

(Stuart, 2009)

• Classical Theories: Aristotle
• Food in ancient times
• Religion & Ethics: Christian, Islamic and Hindu perspective
• Utilitarianism: Jeremy Bentham & John Stuart Mill
• Cost benefit analysis of food waste
• Immanuel Kant
• Feminist Theory
• Discourse Theory

" The good life for people is a life of happiness” Aristotle

Golden Mean – “In order to achieve happiness, people must act moderately, they must act as to be striving for the mean between two extremes” (Stroll and Popkin, 1999)

As such, companies as well as individuals should act as to be striving for the mean between two extremes in order to meet customers demand and reduce waste of the produce.

• Food was extremely important in ancient times
• Often it was used in Monetary sense e.g. to pay for a labour
• The preparation of the meals involved often rituals and blessing
• Food was highly respected and appreciated commodity

Despite that, Stuart (2009) argues that food waste has its origins in ancient times and it was caused by inevitable inefficiencies in food production.

“Eat and drink: But waste not by excess,
For Allah loveth not the wasters.”

Quran , 7:31

The commonality of the three major religions (Christianity, Hindu & Islam) is their attitude towards food. It is a highly appreciated and respected commodity. Often blessed and involing prayers and rituals.

Bentham: “the greatest good for the greatest number of those affected” (Linstead et al. 2009, p 364)

If an action “produces an excess of beneficial effects over harmful ones, than it is right, otherwise it is not” (Popkin and Stroll 1999, p 38)

Thus companies should think about the consequences of their actions. The customer demand stimulates company orders, but a healthy responsible and moral approach should be used in order to meet customers' demand.

+ of reducing global food waste

• there are nearly billion undernourished people in the world – reducing waste and putting some food management system in place would potentially help reduce starvation
• Reducing waste in rich countries could liberate agricultural land for other uses e.g. growing food for poor countries
• Global warming- more than 30% of Europe’s greenhouse gas emissions come from food production

- of reducing global food waste

• demand fora food in one part of the world stimulates economics in other countries (often underprivileged), so reduction in production could possibly affect jobs

• Acts of inclination and Acts of duty
• “that people are not means, but always ends” (Stroll and Popkin, 1999)

In the light of these statements corporations need to be aware of their obligations to deal with excessive food waste. They should treat people not as a means to profitability but as "ends" e.g. they should educate customers about the portioning and composting of the products, as well as the sell-by and use-by dates of the product

“Approach that prioritize empathy, harmonious and healthy social relationships, care for one another, avoidance of harm” (Crane and Matten, 2007)

Food Management affects social relationship and in order to avoid harm to the environment and society, supermarkets should, for example, abandon “bogof” (buy one get one free) offers, that encourage shoppers to buy food they don't need and which ends up unused in bins. Ethics of Care.

• Who cares, who shares?
• Blackstone argument: that a "liveable environment" is an absolute right
• Reducing waste, reduces global warming, therefore our moral obligation should become a legal obligation

REDUCTION! But ...

That food waste that does end up in bins could be dealt with in more environmentally friendly ways (Vaughan, 2009)

For example: Turning waste into fertilisers or gas to generate electricity

"Lack of infrastructure is holding back the drive to make getting rid of food waste cheaper and greener. Councils do not want to collect leftovers without somewhere to send them, but nobody wants to build the places to send food waste until it is being collected.“

(Bettison cited by Vaughan, 2009)

reduce

• Better planning
• Stock rotation
• Improved Storage
• Smaller Portions
• Intelligent Packaging

reuse

• Recipe ideas for leftovers

recycle

• Composting
• Segregated Food Waste

Sainsbury’s Ground zero food waste to landfill programme:

• Sainsbury’s has a clear stated strategy to reduce, reuse and recycle to divert food waste from landfill.
• They view waste as a valuable resource that can be treated in ways that both generate energy and reduce environmental impacts.
• Landfill diversion strategy starts with good stock control to reduce the generation of food waste.
• Donating food that is within its ‘use by’ date to charity.
• Use of anaerobic digestion, which breaks down the food waste into fertiliser and methane gas, used to generate electricity.

(Sainsbury’s corporate website, 2009)