10 Helpful Tips for Preventing Holiday Food Waste in the Office

Thanksgiving is the ultimate food-centric holiday, and end-of-year office parties, potlucks, and treats are just around the corner. These cheerful events can easily turn into food waste disasters. Luckily,  a little planning can go a long way toward reducing the amount of food we all throw away at work! These tips for preventing food waste in the office will help you get started. 

The Holiday Food Waste Problem

Food waste is a big problem in the US. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), “a staggering 40% of all produced food remains uneaten, with a disheartening 95% of discarded food finding its final resting place in landfills, creating significant methane,” a potent global warming gas. 

This is concerning for both people and the planet, but it’s also an opportunity. The EPA estimates that if we turn things around, “a mere 15% reduction in food waste in just the US could annually provide sustenance for over 25 million Americans.”

Food waste generally increases around the holidays, and the office is no exception. Fostering a mindful, waste-conscious workplace is not only good for the environment and food security, but it can also decrease costs and encourage teamwork. So where should you start? 

Pick the Right Portions

Considering portion size can go a long way toward reducing leftover food that is likely to go uneaten.  If your office is having a potluck, ask each contributing employee to bring a dish that feeds only a fraction of the attendees. People tend to try a bit of everything rather than a lot of one dish, so it’s much more likely all of the food will be eaten.

Monitor the Guest List

Ask for RSVPs for office potlucks and other holiday work events so you can better gauge how much food is required. Then, develop a sign-up sheet that includes the recommended number of servings each person should bring as well as the type of dish.

Plan for Leftovers

Encourage employees to bring their contributions in reusable containers. They can then use them to quickly and easily take home any leftovers, saving that food from the trash. This step also reduces plastic waste from single-use containers like plastic bags.

Use Smaller Plates  

People can still eat as much as they want, but supplying smaller plates will reduce the “my eyes are bigger than my stomach” phenomenon, which often means a lot of food remains uneaten. If you don’t have enough reusable dishes in the lunchroom, use small, compostable paper plates rather than plastic cups.

Make Composting Easy

To avoid uneaten food ending up in landfills, keep plenty of compost bins at the party, so people use them rather than throwing everything in the trash. If you use paper plates and compostable utensils, everything including the paper napkins can go in. Keep the other waste bins farther from where people are eating. (If your office doesn’t compost yet, this comprehensive guide can help you get started.)

Consult Your Caterer

If you are having a party catered, ask your caterer for ways to reduce food waste. They will likely have good suggestions that they have used in the past, like offering smaller plates for a buffet or gathering an accurate RSVP list.

Organize a Food-Sharing System

Encourage employees to take leftover fruit and baked goods home, especially on Fridays when those things may end up past their prime on Monday. Designate a shelf in the fridge specifically for leftovers that can be shared. Keep a pen and tape nearby so employees can mark food with the date.

Gamify the Process

Consider organizing a friendly office competition where teams or departments work together to reduce their food waste, with prizes for the most effective reduction strategies. This can make food waste reduction fun and encourage employees to carry these habits into their personal lives.

Educate Your Team

Since employee awareness and participation are essential to success long-term, schedule a lunch-and-learn or workshop on the importance of food waste reduction. An email with tips on storing, sharing, and consuming food efficiently can also help reinforce this habit. Check out this FDA website tips for preventing food waste in the office and at home that you can share with your employees.

Donate Leftovers When You Can

Investigate what your local food bank or food program accepts.  Non-perishable items are usually welcomed, and under certain conditions, perishable items may be accepted as well. If you’re a FruitGuys client, the Donate-a-Crate program can also help you “fruit it forward” by delivering your fruit and snacks to people in need when your office is closed or lightly staffed. Contact customer service to get started.  

Reducing food waste is a meaningful way to build a sustainable, waste-conscious office culture. By implementing these tips for preventing food waste in the office, including strategies like mindful ordering, sharing leftovers, composting, and encouraging reusable containers, your office can significantly reduce its food waste footprint and help the US government reach its goal of reducing food waste by 50 percent by the year 2030.