Record numbers join Every Bite to reduce food waste
Every Bite's biggest Food Appreciation Month yet saw 851 people across Aotearoa take practical action to reduce food waste. Through 25 local events and the largest online programme to date, participants built new habits that will continue well beyond May.
‘It’s been great to see so many people embrace the challenge of food waste awareness,” says Project Manager Georgina Morrison. “The facilitators have been inventive and inspiring, adapting the programme to their own communities. People appreciated the personal connection and support, at a time where making a difference and taking action can often feel overwhelming.”
Approaches at the 25 launch events included cooking, preserving, and fermenting sessions, chef tips, shared kai, a sustainable butchery session, and much more. Participants then spent four weeks trying out simple activities in their own homes before gathering to celebrate their learning.
“I really enjoyed the cooking demonstration on how to use leftovers etc to make delicious meals,” says one participant. “Just the camaraderie - sharing tips, and not being alone in the food waste struggles.”
“I am staggered by the value of this course,” said another. “If more people were aware of it, I think attendance would be through the roof.”
The online programme was also popular, drawing its biggest group to date with 130 participants learning and sharing throughout May. Live sessions were a highlight, with journalist Miriama Kamo, Manawatū More FM’s Sarah Lawrence, and award-winning chef Karl Martin-Boulton joining facilitator Nicola Turner, of Mainstream Green, for discussions and a demonstration.
‘It was really great to have people join from so many different places across Aotearoa,’ says Nicola. ‘We were super lucky to have amazing guests join our live Zoom calls and the energy and engagement from participants was wonderful.’
While some hubs have delivered the programme previously, several new communities came on board for the May in-person programmes, in Waiheke, Christchurch, and Central Otago. They joined existing year 3 Every Bite hubs in Northland. Auckland, Coromandel, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Manawatū, Hawke’s Bay, Marlborough, and Otago.
A few numbers from the May programmes:
851 people attended a live event or Zoom call
25 physical launch events across Aotearoa
130 people joined the online programme
96% plan to continue reducing food waste
90% feel more resourceful around reducing food waste
Attendees’ most popular activity: creating a 'use it up' meal
Attendees’ favourite part: practical tips and recipes
Most commonly reported barrier: finding the time
Participants across Aotearoa made some inspiring changes and adjustments through the month - here are just a few of our favourites:
“We planned our week’s meals before we did the grocery shopping and reckon we saved at least $50!”
“Noticing was the biggest takeaway. I felt way more conscious of my food waste, and then actually did something about it.”
“Since joining Every Bite, I’ve become more mindful about planning meals and using the food we already have at home before buying more. I started checking expiry dates regularly, storing fruits and vegetables properly, and using leftovers creatively instead of throwing them away.”
“I have a lovely batch of apple cider vinegar brewing on my window sill with leftover apple cores from the children's lunches. Pretty exciting. And had a "leftover and ugly veg" pot of bacon hock soup. It was delicious. Normally all of these would go to our pet pig or chickens, but have had a second life.”
Small changes can quickly become lasting habits. While the future of Every Bite is still being explored, the enthusiasm shown across Aotearoa this May demonstrates the appetite for practical, community-led action to reduce food waste. Check out our last blog for some ideas on how to keep the momentum going.
The Every Bite programme aims to strengthen local connections, shift habits, and continue reducing food waste across Aotearoa. It is delivered by Zero Waste Aotearoa, and was part of the Ministry for the Environment’s National Food Waste Reduction Programme.