Food waste is one of the biggest problems in the world. However, there are a number of innovative approaches to tackle it. We want to have a look at one of the newest and most interesting here. Tesco is ramping operations to turn surplus food into animal feed in the UK. It could provide fantastic benefits, creating a circular economy within their own supply chain.

A huge issue

According to the UN, as much as 20% of food for humans is wasted globally. That is over a billion meals every day, and over a billion tonnes each year. This is incredibly disappointing when you consider how many people go hungry daily (733 million in 2023 according to WHO) and issues like energy usage and greenhouse gas emissions.

Tesco has been focusing on reducing food waste from their operations for a long time. They’ve done good work, reducing it from over 95,000 tonnes in 16/17 to over 35,000 tonnes waste 22/34. They are working to continue to reduce it, following the WRAP approach. This aims to reduce waste in the first place, redistribute food that is still safe for humans to consume, convert surplus in to feeds for pets and livestock, and turning remaining waste into energy.

The new facility

Tesco’s operations at a new facility in Northampton are now ramping up. Working in partnership with RenEco, surplus fresh food and bakery produce is now becoming animal feed. Products not sold or given to colleagues or charities go to the facility. There they can be checked, unpackaged, and processed to create feeds.

The great thing here is, at maximum capacity, the facility will be able to handle 1,000 tonnes of food every single week. This would be an incredible achievement. It would even provide opportunities to accept waste from other retailers and producers.

Another fantastic thing is the new facility will help create a circular economy in Tesco’s own supply chain. They can send the animal feed back to farmers, supporting the production of animal products. Even better, controlling the process gives the opportunity to tailor the feeds to suit different specifications, ensuring animals have a healthy diet.

It’s also notable that the new facility is green and sustainable. All power is from renewable sources, including wind and solar, ensuring a smaller carbon footprint. On top of that, the location in Northampton means lower transport emissions to deliver surplus food to the site and then ship feeds to farms.

Both Tesco and RenEco are really pleased with the partnership. Tesco’s Christine Heffernan said it could be “potentially transformational”. RenEco’s Tom Osborne added it is “an innovative solution” that will produce feeds that are “nutritional and less carbon intensive”.

Recommendations for animal feed

JS Hubbuck Ltd has a fantastic reputation built over generations. The key thing is we understand the value of good service. Our goal is to make sure every customer has a great experience. As part of this we can provide advice and recommend products for all kinds of needs, including different herds of animals.

So, contact us today if you want to purchase animal feed or need more information before you do.