In doing so, the HCA is joining forces with 182 HaFSA signatories and supporters who are already taking steps to tackle the waste issue and realise profit.
HaFSA is brokered by the Waste Resoources Action Programme (WRAP), which estimates that food waste alone costs the UK hospitality and food service sector £2.5 billion a year.
Andy Jones, HCA chairman, said the healthcare sector served more than a billion meals each year – about 13% of all meals eaten out of home in the UK. This catering operation generated 170,300 tonnes of waste each year, of which 121,000 tonnes was food waste.
“We’re really proud to be part of this agreement. We know waste is a serious issue in our industry and we all – companies, organisations and associations – have to work together to make a difference.
“As caterers we also recognise that waste comes from many sources and areas but as national chair. I am challenging HCA members to consider looking at their food waste and where it arises; preparation, spoilage and plate waste.
“Planning menus is a critical part of addressing all three areas. For plate waste, it arises not just as a consequence of people being ill and leaving food, it could be as a result of incorrect portion size or the wrong menu for a particular patient group.
“I feel that the level of inaccuracy on these aspects could be dramatically reduced if patients and caterers work together firstly with the clinical teams to create the menus then followed by the dieticians undertaking the nutritional checking.”
By 2015 the agreement aims to cut food and associated packaging waste by 5% (that’s the equivalent of saving around 100m meals that could’ve otherwise ended up in the bin.
It also aims to increase the overall rate of food and packaging waste that is being recycled, processed for energy or composted to 70%, the equivalent of taking 110,000 cars off the road for one year.
The HaFSA was created by WRAP on behalf of the UK, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland governments and builds on WRAP’s research and work already being undertaken by industry to tackle waste.
WRAP chief executive Liz Goodwin said: “We are delighted that the Hospital Caterers Association has signed up to be a supporter to the Hospitality and Food Service Agreement.
“One of the big challenges the sector currently faces, as identified by WRAP’s research, is tackling the vast amount of food and packaging waste it produces and currently disposes of to landfill each year.
“The joint Agreement between WRAP, all four UK governments and industry will tackle this issue, and by working together we can reduce the environmental impact from waste produced by the sector, whilst realising the financial benefits.”
Healthcare is one of nine key sub sectors that the HaFSA is aimed at helping, also including restaurants, quick service restaurants, pubs, hotels, leisure, education, staff catering and services.