Responsibility
Product Surpluses
With sustainability and waste reduction issues becoming ever more important and food poverty on the increase, reducing waste is essential. Yet around 3 million tonnes of food is wasted in the UK every year.
Asda works with organisations which are able to take surplus products and redistribute them to people in need. Last year Fareshare, who Asda work with, collected 3,600 tonnes of surplus food and delivered it to a network of over 700 charities and community projects across the country, feeding 36,500 every day.
The benefits to organisations of using these routes to dispose of surplus products are considerable;
- Reducing waste, reducing waste to landfill and helping companies to reach waste targets
- Reducing waste disposal costs
- Increased corporate social responsibility by working with charitable organisations which help those in need
- Ensuring products go to worthwhile causes and are not sold on or traded
Asda has a corporate objective to be a zero waste to landfill business, because of this commitment Asda encourages suppliers to use the following approved options for surplus products:
Fareshare
FareShare is the national UK registered charity that supports communities to relieve food poverty. FareShare works with the food industry to distribute surplus products to over 5,500 charities. FareShare distributes food to a wide range of organizations including : homeless shelters, elderly day care centre’s, mental health charities, night shelters, children’s breakfast clubs, domestic violence safe houses and alcohol and drug support groups and afterschool clubs.
Types of product accepted
FareShare can accept chilled, frozen, fresh produce and ambient food products which are still within date life but no longer have any commercial value. These can include: short coded products, damages, deleted lines, overstocks, production trials, depot rejections, incorrect forecasts, QA rejections on weight/packaging, retailers rejections and manufacturing errors.
To donate
Please contact: foodoffers@fareshare.org.uk or telephone 020 7064 8911
FareShare also has a new fund to support suppliers in redistributing surplus food and household groceries. Watch the below video to find out more and help us Create Change for Better.
In Kind Direct
In Kind Direct is a charity founded by HRH The Prince of Wales in 1996 to make it easy for companies to donate surplus stock to good causes. Over 8,300 UK charities have received products from In Kind Direct to date including: child and youth care charities, women’s refuges, family welfare organisations, emergency relief and development, disability charities and elderly welfare groups amongst others. The vast majority of charities benefiting are small, local, grassroots groups without the resources of large charities.
Types of product accepted
All kinds of new, usable non-food stock in any quantity. Of particular interest are: cleaning and household supplies, essential toiletries, cook and kitchenware, tools, toys and educational items, linens, office supplies and clothing and shoes. They also accept ambient food, generally with at least three months left to run until use-by.
To donate
Email a brief description of the stock you have available including description, volumes and condition to donations@inkinddirect.org or simple call James Williams or David Lloyd to discuss on 0300 30 20 200.
More information is available at www.inkinddirect.org/companies/donate-goods.
Salvation Army Trading Company Ltd
SATCoL raises funds from the donated items through its network of over 150 charity shops and from clothing sales overseas. Salvation Army Trading Company Ltd (SATCoL) is a wholly owned trading subsidiary of The Salvation Army Charity. Profit that SATCoL receives from the sale of donated clothing/items is gift-aided to The Salvation Army who provide social and welfare community work throughout the UK.
Types of products accepted
SATCoL accept new/used clothing, accessories, shoes, household textiles and toys, furniture, homeware, home appliances and electricals, music, video, games and books, health and beauty. SATCoL are able to process small or very large donations using their nationwide logistics network.
To donate
Please contact Trevor Shaw on 01933 441807 or trevor.shaw@satcol.org
Company Shop
Company Shop assists suppliers with the disposal of out of specification/ surplus product that is fit for human consumption. Asda have entered into an agreement with Company Shop Ltd to allow them to purchase own brand foods from suppliers with the packaging still in place. Company Shop’s sustainable model provides a safe, environmentally sound, cost effective, discrete, ethical and compliant solution for the disposal of residual stock.
Types of products accepted
All food products chilled, ambient and frozen.
