King launches food waste reduction program on 75th birthday

An initiative to cut down on food waste in the United Kingdom during the cost-of-living crisis has been launched to mark the 75th birthday of King Charles III on Tuesday.

The Coronation Food Project aims to combat waste, both for environmental reasons — the king has long been a vocal supporter of sustainability and green causes — and also on economic grounds.

In an article for a recent edition of The Big Issue, a magazine sold by homeless people in the UK, the king wrote: "Food need is as real and urgent a problem as food waste — and if a way could be found to bridge the gap between them, then it would address two problems in one.

"It is my great hope that this Coronation Food Project will find practical ways to do just that — rescuing more surplus food, and distributing it to those who need it most."

The new drive builds upon efforts made in December 2022, when a 1-million-pound ($1.24-million) fund was launched with a personal donation from the monarch, to distribute more than 800 commercial fridges and freezers throughout the UK to enable food charities to rescue tons of surplus food that would otherwise have gone to waste.

Louise Casey, co-chair of the Coronation Food Project, said: "As a country, even in our darkest moments, there are many of us that will step up and try and do something to help.

"Look at The Big Issue. Look where it came from, look what it does now. You're not alone. There are many other people that do that every day. King Charles is one of them and understands public service."

The other co-chair, Martina Milburn, who was previously head of The Prince's Trust charity, said the project is not trying "to invent something new".

"We're coming in to support and expand what already exists. Basically, we're boosting the sector to be able to reduce the amount of food waste, and use that for a social purpose."

The launch of the king's new initiative comes at the same time as research by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation charity reveals that many families have been turning off their fridges or freezers to cut down on energy use because of the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.

"People risk becoming sick from eating spoiled food and going without healthy, fresh food. This risks lasting harm to the health of millions," the foundation's chief analyst Peter Matejic told The Guardian newspaper.

"The picture isn't getting better for low-income families, even as inflation starts to come down. Too many are taking out loans to pay for food, selling their belongings, and using warm banks to try and get by."