New study from Hellmann’s and WRAP1 shows that 48% of people in the UK say they are throwing away the same amount of food or more per week than this time last year1
- 1 in 3 people report they throw away the equivalent of one shopping bag of food per week1, costing families approximately £780 per year
- Although Brits peek in the fridge an average of seven times per day7, one in five (20%) struggle to know where to start with finding a recipe for their leftovers7.
- Hellmann’s has announced the launch of its Fridge Night app in the UK; a free digital app designed to help Brits reduce the food wasted in their homes and save money each week
- Launched in partnership with Liam Charles – who acts as Host on the app - Hellmann’s Fridge Night guides Brits across a four-week programme and its ‘3 + 1 flexipe’ approach8 provides practical tools and simple tips to help them reduce food waste by up to 33%1
This International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste (29 September), Hellmann’s and climate action NGO WRAP have come together to release a new global study1 on the latest food waste behaviours.
The study indicates that nearly half of respondents throw away as much food or more than they did this time last year1, revealing an opportunity for people to save further by reducing waste in their homes. For 1 in 3 people1, the amount of food they waste is equivalent to putting one shopping bag of food2 in the bin each week.
Food waste in the home is now costing families3 £780 per year on average4, but almost half of the study respondents underestimated the cost of their food waste1.
The study also revealed that respondents wanted to be more resourceful with their food, but they often don’t know where to start; 37% of people in the UK were unsure where to find helpful information when it comes to reducing food waste1 and a further one in five (20%) struggle to know where to start with finding a recipe for their leftovers7.
While there’s no shortage of checking out what’s in the fridge – with Brits peeking inside an average of seven times per day7 – as many as one in five (19%) are only looking in the fridge out of boredom, with the average Brit cooking only six meals per week at home.
To help Britsfall back in love with their leftovers, Hellmann’s – the nation’s favourite mayo brand9 – has announced the UK launch of a family-friendly, free digital app, Hellmann’s Fridge Night, which is designed to help the nation reduce food waste and save money each week.
Hellmann’s wants to be a force for positive behaviour change, adding to the enjoyment of food, while inspiring people to be more resourceful with what they have to hand.
As a brand committed to helping people enjoy great tasting food, without worry or waste, the launch of the Hellmann’s Fridge Night app in the UK – along with its four-week programme and tools – will help Brits make both ingredients and their money stretch further.
Through the Hellmann’s Fridge Night app, and over the course of a four-week in-app programme, presenter, Chef and TV personality Liam Charles will act as the host and guide users on a journey to help them reduce their food waste and spread their money further. Each week, Liam Charles dishes up new challenges, including new flexible recipes – or ‘flexipes’ – that Brits can adapt to use up the ingredients they have leftover.
By keeping track of their food waste, in combination with using the Fridge Night tools, families can reduce their food waste by up to 33%1. Plus, with nearly half of Brits (44%) already using condiments, such as mayonnaise, to help them use up what they have in their fridges7 – the 3+1 framework8 couldn’t be more fitting!
“I am always in the kitchen, and can be guilty of some food waste and not making the most of my leftovers. Working with Hellmann’s to launch the Fridge Night App has been a fun and inspiring project to work on – and has made me really consider how I use food and where I can reduce my waste.
Liam Charles, Hellmann’s Fridge Night app Host
We know how important it can be to make the most of the food you buy. At Hellmann’s, we believe food is too good to be wasted and are thrilled see the launch of our Fridge Night app in the UK, helping to show Brits how they can make their food and money stretch further. We know that people want to be resourceful with their food and the launch of the app couldn’t have come at a better time. We’re so pleased to team up with Liam Charles – a known foodie figure that has appeared on TV screens in homes across the UK – to support people in better understanding the impact that reducing food waste can have on the environment and their budgets
Rachel Chambers, Senior Marketing Manager of Hellmann’s
It isn’t just wallets that are left counting the cost when it comes to food waste – one-third of all food produced for human consumption globally is lost or wasted, contributing as much as 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions5 - and 70% of food waste in the UK happens at homes4
“With this research we set out to uncover whether amidst the rising cost pressures for households, are people placing greater value on food and wasting less? Or is our waste just costing us more? According to our research, 85% of people report that their food bills have increased, however, people are still wasting the same amount of food (or more) than last year.
“After years of research, we understand that the barriers to reducing food waste are complex. However, easy, practical shifts in the home can make a big impact – not only to our wallets, but also to the planet.” notes Richard Swannell, International Director, WRAP
This International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste (September 29th), Hellmann’s and WRAP are together reminding the nation that everyone has a role to play in reducing food waste and that it’s possible to enjoy great tasting food - without worry or waste.
WRAP first raised the issue of food waste publicly fifteen years ago and since then, has run the Love Food Hate Waste campaign to help people avoid the common triggers of food waste at home with information, advice, and tactics to make the most of their food and save money.
Each year, WRAP’s Love Food Hate Waste campaign hosts the annual Food Waste Action Week to raise awareness of environmental consequences of wasting food and promote food waste reduction. In 2021, Food Waste Action Week reached more than 8 million people, with half taking action to reduce their food waste at home, and the third annual Food Waste Action Week will take place March 6-12, 2023.
The Hellmann's Fridge Night app offers simple, practical solutions to help people be more resourceful with the food they have at home and is now available to download for free on both Android and Apple devices.
To find out more or start your Fridge Night journey, visit https://www.hellmanns.com/uk/fridge-night.html
Download the Fridge Night app at:
Google: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.unilever.fridgenight&hl=en_UK&gl=UK
Apple: https://apps.apple.com/uk/app/fridge-night/id1565974115
For more information, please contact:
hellmanns@wcommunications.co.uk
[1] Hellmann’s x WRAP Study, June-July 2022 (all findings self-reported and have been localised to the UK population and generalised from a study of 1,000 UK adults)
[2] UK, US, Canada, and Australia
[3] Counted as one standard size shopping bag
[4] Families with children
[5] WRAP, Food waste and Surplus in the UK, October 2021), inflation adjusted
[6] UN Environment Program Food Waste Index Report, 2021
[7] Perspectus Global Survey of 2,000 UK adults, July 2022
[8] 3+1 flexipe’ approach is later described below under ‘About Hellmann’s Fridge Night’
[9] Nielsen, Total Coverage Including Discounters, Mayonnaise Share, MAT 13 Aug 2022