Sainsbury’s is extending a scheme to reduce household food waste after a pilot project.

Sainsbury s Nine Elms Trolley self checkout

Sainsbury’s Nine Elms Trolley self-checkout

The £10m five-year Waste Less, Save More programme – launched in 2016 – is designed to slash UK food waste by 50%.

The project has identified the types of barrier that stand in the way of food waste reduction but it will be extended to London and the ambition is to take it nationwide.

Measure of success

Sainsbury’s head of sustainability, energy, engineering and environment Paul Crewe said: “Waste Less, Save More is a brand new way of working and completely different from what anyone has done before, so it was hard to define a measure of success.

”That said, we really wanted a stretching target to drive results and we’re really proud of the progress that has been made at a household level.

“Having spent the last year getting under the skin of household food waste, we have realised that this kind of behavioural change won’t happen overnight, but we have definitely seen positive progress on what will be a longer journey.

“What’s more, we’re now looking to take the campaign nationwide. Even if we inspire small changes within our communities, these will add up to have a big impact.”

Sainsbury’s plans to trial the scheme next in Peckham to measure the challenges of reducing food waste for those living in dense residential housing.

Official statistics show an average family throws away £700 worth of food each year.