Wagamama has announced it is extending its “Wasteless with wagamama” food waste campaign in the UAE until the end of September. The initiative is aimed at promoting more mindful consumption and reducing food waste across the community, the restaurant said.
Food waste is a significant issue globally, with 1.3 billion tonnes of food wasted each year. This is true regionally, too, and in the UAE, almost 40 per cent of prepared food is wasted each day.
The financial cost of this stands at an estimated $3.5 billion annually in the UAE. However, the environmental cost is even greater, with food waste contributing between 8-10 per cent of total man-made greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, globally.
The campaign said it will target this food waste challenge through a number of actions, including providing ‘Reclaim & Refill Containers,’ which aim to encourage customers to take leftovers home. Customers will also be incentivised to do so by receiving a 10% discount on their bill every time they dine in and takeaway food using their Wagamama Tupperware.
The purchase will also automatically enter Tupperware owners into the ‘Waste-less Competition,’ with eligibility dependent on using your Tupperware at least five times between June and September.
According to the restaurant, the higher the level of customers’ participation, the higher their chances of winning 1,000 AED worth of meals.
Ankitha Rajendaran, Marketing Director, commented: “At wagamama, we embrace the principle of kaizen, focusing on continuous improvement in every aspect of our business. We are dedicated to creating a culture of non-waste. The Wasteless with wagamama campaign embodies our commitment to sustainability, community involvement, and the relentless pursuit of positive change.”