Costa Coffee has signed the UK Government’s food waste pledge. Credit: Costa Coffee image

British coffee chain Costa Coffee has become the latest foodservice operator to sign the UK Government’s pledge to halve food waste by 2030.

Last month the coffee chain attended the ‘Step up to the Plate’ symposium hosted by food surplus and waste champion Ben Elliot, along with other UK food giants including Nestle, Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Waitrose.

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Costa Coffee pledged to reduce its food waste and help to raise public awareness in partnership with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Environmental Secretary Michael Gove said: “Congratulations to Costa Coffee for stepping up to the plate and committing to game-changing action to cut food waste.

“The UK is showing real leadership in this area, and together we will end the environmental and economic scandal that is food waste.”

The coffee chain has also started a Food Surplus Store Donations Policy and is working with charity FareShare to reduce food poverty and waste in the UK.

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Costa Coffee head of sustainability Victoria Moorhouse said: “At Costa Coffee, we are committed to playing our part in reducing waste wherever possible. We have a number of initiatives to ensure there is minimal food waste, which includes, first and foremost, an efficient ordering system designed to reduce waste before it is created.

“We also allow food sold during the last hour of trading that is in date but cannot be sold the following day to be discounted by 50% and empower our stores to make food donations to local charities via our Food Surplus Policy. Finally, for those stores whose waste streams we manage, any food waste that cannot be redistributed we send to Anaerobic Digestion, where it is turned into biogas and bio fertiliser.

“We are delighted to be working alongside government to drive change and share best practice, stepping up to the plate and delivering collective action.”