The James Cook University Hospital is joining the fight to reduce food waste by setting up an Eco Shop.
The pop-up shop in the hospital’s Volunteers Coffee Lounge is taking high quality surplus food and making it available to staff for a small donation.
The food, which would have gone to supermarkets but has become surplus, this could be because it was over-ordered or misprinted on the packaging, is supplied by FareShare who redistribute it so it doesn’t go to landfill.
The new shop, which is open twice a week, was set up in partnership with South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Middlesbrough Environment City, FareShare NE and the Middlesbrough Food Partnership.
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Trust staff using the shop can pick up a bargain while doing their part in helping the environment, selecting 10 tins, jars or packets for just £2.
Steve Bell, the trust’s environmental and sustainability lead, said: “In order to advance our green agenda this initiative plays a vital role in supporting our staff through the provision of a service which benefits both the environment and our workforce.”
Coffee Lounge manager Georgina Oakley said: “We are really pleased to have our very own Eco Shop here at James Cook. I have always hated wasting food when it is still perfectly safe to eat, so I jumped at the chance of playing a part in reducing food wastage, helping the environment, and offering the staff a chance to save money in the current climate.”
Laura Hallett from the trust’s greener group added: “As a member of the greener group, and as a volunteer food waste hero for Olio in my own time, I’m really proud that James Cook has joined the fight in reducing food wastage.”
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