IGA, one of the largest groups of independent grocers in Canada, is supporting a campaign focused on combatting food waste. For the 15th consecutive year, Action RE-buts is organizing the Quebec waste reduction week (Semaine québécoise de réduction des déchets), which will take place Oct. 17-25.

An issue that affects everyone

According to a recent survey carried out for IGA, 81 percent of Quebecers consider the reduction of food waste to be important. Close to a third of those surveyed believe that food waste occurs mainly in restaurants, while 22 percent believe it's a problem at home. The truth, however, is a bit different. According to data from the Food Waste in Canada study carried out by the Value Chain Management Centre, 47 percent of wasted food is thrown out at home. And even though they don't consider themselves the main culprits, people surveyed considered reducing food waste to be a priority, with 55 percent of them rating it as a high priority right behind recycling which topped the list at 63 percent.

La Semaine québécoise de réduction des déchets invites all Quebecers to take part in one of the many activities being offered Oct. 17-25, including conferences, concerts and workshops that encourage participants to take concrete steps toward reducing food waste.

A Disco Soup of odd looking fruits and vegetables!

The general public was invited to the campaign launch on Saturday, Oct. 17 at Montreal's Jean-Talon Market; the event included a Disco Soup where people came together and used unsold fruit and vegetables to prepare delicious soups and smoothies. IGA provided close to 450 pounds of odd looking fruits and vegetables — Quebec products that look a bit less than perfect, but taste every bit as good. The event included lots of activities and animation to teach people more about food waste and how each one can help to reduce it.

Large-scale projects for sustainable solutions

Since the creation of Fonds Éco IGA in June 2008 in partnership with Le Jour de la Terre Québec, IGA's 285 grocers have been making concrete gestures to benefit the environment. This year they are investing their eighth $1 million to finance and bring new community projects to life.

"We're working hard to find sustainable solutions, and our IGA grocers are on the front line," Marie-Noëlle Cano, director of communications and sustainable development at Sobeys Québec, said in a press release. “Examples of our efforts include our in-store waste management program that involves composting, in-store food transformation for prepared foods, and charitable donations. In addition, we launched our À vos frigos! workshops at back-to-school time aimed at providing tips and advice to consumers for optimizing what they have in their fridge!" This wide-scale project, in collaboration with Le Jour de la Terre and La Tablée des Chefs, began in September 2015 and is offering 96 workshops that Quebecers throughout the province can register to attend.