University of York Catering and Hospitality team make donation

The innovative sustainability initiative ‘Shop, save and sustain’, organised by the University’s Catering and Hospitality team, has raised over £6,400 for local charities, including the York Food Bank, Kitchen for Everyone, and The Island, York.

Shop, save and sustain is a food waste reduction scheme, launched in September 2021. Surplus food items that would normally be discarded at the end of the day are instead discounted. For every purchase made through this initiative, £1 is donated to food-based charities within York, making a significant impact on the lives of those in need.

“At the University of York, sustainability is central to our vision and operations. Our commitment to environmental sustainability runs throughout every aspect of our organisation, and we are committed to fostering long-term sustainability across all areas” said Arnaud Rustan, Senior Operations Manager for Catering and Retail at the University of York.

Each day, in the final 15 minutes before the University cafés and restaurants close, unsold food is discounted by at least 50%. The food, including packaged sandwiches, desserts, drinks and hot food items, is still safe for consumption but would otherwise go to waste at the end of the day.

This allows members of the campus community to buy high-quality food at discounted prices, preventing meals from being wasted. Since the scheme began, a total of 33,561 items/meals have been bought at reduced prices and over £6,400 has been raised for local charities, including the York Food Bank, Kitchen for Everyone and The Island. It’s an impactful initiative which advances the University sustainability goals (see here) while supporting the local community.

“York Foodbank would like to thank Eat, Shop, Drink at the University of York for such a generous donation, to help ensure the availability of emergency food for the sadly increased numbers of people across the city who are being referred to us. In addition to much needed food items, this will also help to provide Financial Inclusion advice in Foodbank settings which can make all the difference for someone at a difficult time” said Adam Raffell, York Foodbank Manager

Pictured below, Arnaud Rustan, Adam Raffell and a selection of the York Foodbank volunteers.

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