Ecosprout launches Zero Food Waste program, seeks out partner organizations

Published on June 23, 2020

The ongoing Coronavirus pandemic has shifted our focus to what really matters. It has made us question our access to the essentials, especially food security. Despite the pressing issues brought by this crisis, there is still a continuing struggle to fight climate change. Because while the factories have paused operations, and more people have been riding bicycles to go around, carbon emissions are still rising. The culprit? Food waste.

Why Food Waste?

If food scraps were removed from landfills, the decrease of greenhouse gases would be equal to removing one-fifth of all cars from the road, one report from the UK estimates. 

Project Drawdown, a non-profit group, took a deep-dive into the role of food waste in climate change. According to their 2020 study:

"[If] one starts to think about all the energy and emissions that come along with every drop of oil, crust of bread or chicken breast, it becomes pretty clear as to why food waste matters," he said, pointing to emissions stemming from agriculture, harvesting and processing, packaging, transportation, food preparation and ultimately the discarding of items.”

What can we do?

According to a report by Dana Gunders,

“At the retail and end-consumer stages of the supply chain, perishables make up the majority of food losses due to the high volume of consumption and the food’s tendency to spoil. In terms of total mass, fresh fruits and vegetables account for the largest losses, followed closely by dairy, and meat/poultry/fish spoilage.”

Since we started our Fresh Produce section here at Ecosprout, we have come face to face with the food waste problem. Some items are highly perishable, especially the Fresh Greens, like romaine lettuce and kale. If they do not pass our quality standard, we pile them up and use the goods for our own consumption. However, as the demand for fresh produce grew, we also ended the day with discarded goods way more than what we can consume.

At first, we gave the items to our community frontliners: the security guards, housekeepers and desk attendants. As it became more frequent, we wondered if we could partner with an organization who needs a constant supply of fruits and vegetables to feed its members. 

Food Recovery

Upon realizing that we play a crucial role in the food supply chain as a distributor, we actively sought out groups and organizations who are willing to receive the goods and close the loop in the food supply chain. Thanks to the referral of Ms. Apple Davalos from the Commission on Human Rights, we were able to get in touch with our first partner organization. 

 Photo Courtesy: FruitGuys

About Lumad Bakwit School

Last July 2019, the Department of Education suspended 54 Lumad schools on baseless accusations that they are teaching children to attack the military. The series of closures happened without prior investigation and due process.

“From 58 schools that were shut down in the middle of last year, there are now 135 schools including other NGO-run Lumad schools forcibly closed in Mindanao affecting almost 4,000 students whole communities are hamleted and people were forced to submit themselves as ‘rebel surrenders’.”

For the Lumad, it takes a village to raise a child and a movement to build schools.

From 2017-2019, a number of churches and universities in Metro Manila opened their doors to Lumad refugees. Close to a hundred Lumad students, teachers and parents set up a Bakwit School, “a makeshift school for displaced indigenous children.”

Ecosprout gives to Bakwit School

On June 22, Ecosprout sent its first wave of fruits and vegetables donations to the Bakwit School inside UP Campus where at least 80 people are setting up camp.

Ecosprout launches Zero Food Waste Program

While this is just the first time we gave to an organization, surely, this will not be the last. 

This has set the stage for us to officially launch our Zero Food Waste Program. 

Starting June 2020, we will be giving to our chosen organizations.

Help us give more, order your fresh produce weekly. 

If you know of other organizations who are also accepting perishable goods as donations, please get in touch with us. Call +639672317786 /send an email to contact@bestsproutshop.com.

Ecosprout delivers to your doorstep every Wednesday and Saturday.

Order your fresh produce now, no minimum order required. FREE DELIVERY for orders above P1,200 to anywhere in Metro Manila.

Call For Volunteers and Donations

Save our Schools Network is still looking for volunteer teachers and non-teaching volunteers. You may also donate goods in kind. Get in touch with them here: https://www.facebook.com/saveourschoolsnetwork/