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Visit Scotland | Alba
Article published 10/08/2021

Plate up for Glasgow is a hospitality industry-led, month-long campaign that will run to coincide with COP26 (2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference) which takes place in Glasgow from 31 October – 12 November 2021. 

The campaign will look to encourage Glasgow-based businesses within the food and drink sector to offer diners a zero-waste dining option throughout the campaign period from 12 October – 12 November 2021. The campaign is fronted by Glasgow Chamber of Commerce through its Circular Glasgow initiative, in partnership with Eusebi Restaurant and Deli and Experience Glasgow Food and Drink.

 

Plate up for Glasgow logo

 

Who can participate?

The campaign is open to Glasgow-based food and drink venues interested in piloting food waste reduction solutions and promoting sustainability. It’s also open to suppliers of local Scottish produce to businesses in Glasgow.

Businesses including The Gannet, Paesano Pizza and The Finnieston are among those which have already committed to taking part in the initiative, allowing both locals and visitors to the city to taste the very best of Glasgow's sustainable and edible innovations.

Why should you participate?

The aim is to create a Glasgow movement to inspire and invite everyone to act against food waste – challenging traditional, and often wasteful, dining out or takeaway business models with the aim of sending as little food waste as possible to landfill.

The campaign will also offer advice from some of the city’s best chefs on how you can reduce food waste in your business, as well as highlighting the many benefits of buying local produce.

Business benefits include:

  • Driving footfall and revenue, supporting local economic growth and pandemic recovery.
  • Collaborating with other leading city-based businesses to share best practice and insights.
  • Being part of a pioneering pilot campaign, with the ambition to upscale to a future national campaign.
  • Positioning your business as a leader in demonstrating a real commitment to delivering on COP26’s ambitions.
  • Benefitting from increased profile through campaign PR and media.
  • Receiving ongoing cost saving and food waste reduction support, via Circular Glasgow and Zero Waste Scotland.

Did you know?

33%

of food waste is wasted before it even reaches our plates

£10,000

is the average cost of food waste generated by each hospitality and food service business

£212 million

is the annual cost of food waste to the Scottish hospitality industry

*Source: Scale of Scotland’s food waste challenge, Zero Waste Scotland report

Glasgow is leading the charge in transforming methods and perceptions around sustainability and circularity across all sectors of the economy, and Plate up for Glasgow is just another example of the city’s ability to innovate and collaborate to drive change.

The food and drink sector is at the heart of our city and one that was hit hard by the pandemic, so we look forward to launching this campaign which aims to connect businesses, buyers and suppliers, all with a shared goal of reducing waste, becoming more sustainable and protecting our planet.

We want this to be a campaign led by Glasgow businesses for Glasgow businesses, and with the wide range of fantastic venues already signed up, I know the Glasgow community will get behind this initiative in the lead up to COP26.

Alison McRae, Senior Director at Glasgow Chamber of Commerce

We are so excited to be a part of Plate up for Glasgow. During the pandemic we not only saw the benefit of local businesses supporting one another, but it gave many within hospitality a chance to stop, think and re-evaluate on the systems and processes in place.

COP26 presents Glasgow’s hospitality sector with a real opportunity to showcase its culinary innovations to visitors from all over the world – and moving to more modern and sustainable methods within our cooking, service, manufacturing and supply chains is the next logical step as we look to reduce our carbon footprint.

Jonathan MacDonald, Chef Patron of Ox and Finch

Glasgow’s food and drink businesses are a window into our local communities and tell the story of the city’s rich heritage and diversity. This campaign will help the recovery of the city and of our sector – we look forward to welcoming businesses to join us in our journey towards a more sustainable future for all.

Craig Martin, Chair of Experience Glasgow Food & Drink and Head of HR Operations at C&C Group

How you can get involved in our #TourismForceForGood campaign

Tourism is an economic and social powerhouse for Scotland. It creates wealth and social benefits in every corner of the country and enhances the wellbeing of everyone who takes a holiday at home. For more information on all strands of this project and how you can get involved visit our #TourismForceForGood page.

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