Dobbies’ food waste scheme saves CO emissions equal to charging 30 million phones

Dobbies garden centres have saved wasted emissions equivalent to charging a phone 30.7 million times, the retailer has claimed.

The UK’s largest chain released the results of its partnership with Too Good To Go, on Stop Food Waste Day (26 April). The partnership, which began in February 2021, has seen 69,880 Surprise Bags of food sold, which would have otherwise gone to waste.

Over 174 tonnes of CO2 emissions have been saved from going to waste by Dobbies’ participation in the scheme, the same amount as flying from London to New York almost 200 times.

Customers can purchase a Surprise Bag in 53 Dobbies’ food halls across the UK, filled with quality surplus food that would ordinarily go to waste. With an RRP of £12-14, the Surprise Bags are available to buy for £3.99.

Roz Docherty, Senior Food Buyer, at Dobbies said: “Our partnership with Too Good To Go highlights our understanding that our customers care about the environment, whether it be through reducing food waste or gardening in a sustainable way.

“Too Good To Go is simple to use. Customers simply download the free app and search for nearby businesses with unsold produce. They then purchase a Surprise Bag and collect it at an allotted time.”

Sophie Trueman, Country Director at Too Good To Go UK and Ireland added:

“It’s fantastic to see our partnership with Dobbies continue to pave the way for a more sustainable future. At Too Good To Go, our mission is to make sure good food is enjoyed, not wasted. Our app users get great meals at a great price, businesses reach new customers and we’re reducing the harmful impact of food waste on our planet – it really is a win-win-win!”

Too Good To Go is a certified B-Corp and tech-for-good company powering the world’s largest marketplace for surplus food. Founded in 2016, Too Good To Go has saved more than 200 million Surprise Bags of food from being wasted across 17 countries.

Working with businesses from local restaurants, cafes, bakeries, to hotels, manufacturers and supermarkets, Too Good To Go connects consumers to surplus food that would otherwise be thrown away simply because it hasn’t sold in time.

The app provides a simple way for food businesses to redirect their surplus and recover sunk costs, and consumers to help fight climate change in a fun, delicious and cost-effective way

For more information about the Dobbies partnership with Too Good to Go please visit:https://www.dobbies.com/too-goodto-go