Philanthropist Ben Elliot has taken up the unpaid role for one year to help drive down unnecessary food waste in the UK, which totals 10.2 million tonnes per year, according to the government.
The co-founder of lifestyle group Quintessentially and chair of the Quintessentially Foundation will work with businesses and other stakeholders from across retail, food manufacture, hospitality and foodservice, motivating businesses to tackle food waste from farm to fork.
His first task will be to help ensure the government’s £15m food waste fund redistributes surplus food that would otherwise be wasted to those most in need.
Speaking of the appointment, Environment Secretary Michael Gove said: “Food waste is an economic, environmental and moral scandal. We must end it.”
The appointment is a key commitment of government’s Resources and Waste Strategy launched last year, and will support its commitment to work towards eliminating food waste to landfill by 2030.
“As a nation, we need to stop this excessive waste and ensure that surplus food finds its way to people in our society who need it most, and not let it get thrown away and go to landfill,” says Elliot.
“The progress that we have made at the Felix Project has had a positive impact on thousands of people’s lives in London and I am extremely grateful to all of those involved in the food sector that have been so supportive.”