With the pandemic and lockdown woes foodservice sector is under strain. Consumers know this and it has got some worried that businesses might start to “cut corners”, according to research by the Food Standards Agency. "The thing I'm concerned about when restaurants eventually open is how long stuff's been in that freezer so I won't…

More than 94% of Brits would like to see more on-the-go recycling points installed in public places. This isn’t surprising. Meanwhile, 89% recycle drinks packaging when at home, but just 41% do so when they’re out and about. That isn’t surprising either – but it is worrying. Lack of bins is the big issue, followed…

More than three-quarters (83%) of consumers changed how they planned, purchased and prepared their food during the first national lockdown, with over half (51%) claiming to have eaten more fruit and vegetables, according to the latest research by IGD. The latest IGD data, drawn from 2,000 UK consumers through September and October 2020, showed there…

Meat and dairy consumption needs to fall by 20% by 2035 to put the UK on the path to net zero, according to the government’s advisory body. The Climate Change Committee (CCC) said food waste must also halve by 2030 and household recycling rates should hit 70% by the same year. This week the CCC…

Food companies have reduced unnecessary plastic items by 40% over the past two years but ongoing problems with recycling flexible plastics is holding back progress on recyclability. Wrap this week published its second annual Plastics Pact report measuring progress against 2025 targets. The pact brings together members from across the plastics value chain to change…

A recent increase in vegetable sales is under threat from a slowdown in the rate of retail sales and concerns over the impact of covid-19 and Brexit. Research from the Food Foundation found that 72.1 million additional portions of vegetables were sold across the UK between July 2019 and June 2020 despite the foodservice sector…

Nando’s and McDonald’s are selling chicken fed on soya that has been linked to deforestation in Brazil, according to a new investigation. Both firms admitted there was “more to do” to ensure the feed used in their supply chains is sustainable. Neither denied the findings. At the centre of the expose is Cargill – or…

In November, the Environment Agency started issuing enforcement notices to large hospitality businesses that were failing to comply with the energy savings opportunity scheme (ESOS). Consultants reported an “influx” of calls from worried firms facing penalties of up to £50,000. However, it seems they have breathing space. In a statement to Ends Report, the EA…

Four in five small businesses working in the food, farming and catering sectors have made sustainability a priority over the next year. Polls always need to be taken with a pinch of salt, but the results of this relatively small EON survey of SMEs is encouraging. Some 83% of those in agriculture or horticulture said…

A new sustainability scheme has been launched to help institutional caterers incentivise people to eat more plants. The Kale Yeah! scheme from Friends of the Earth encourages caterers in places such as universities and workplaces to rebalance menus away from animal products towards vegetables, pulses and beans. The scheme, which has been piloted with the…