In an effort to combat food waste, one all-inclusive hotel in Turkey has taken a stand to remind its guests about the importance of responsible consumption. “Take all you can eat but eat all you take” has become their new motto!
Along with the message displayed on a board, and to drive the point further home, the hotel’s staff posts the exact amount of food wasted each day, prominently showing it for all to see upon entering the restaurant. The most recent update on the sign read: “Yesterday’s wastage was 26 kilograms, which can feed 104 people” – a jaw-dropping figure!
According to online platform Fly4Free, studies have revealed that guests tend to pile up their plates at buffet-style meals, often taking more than they can finish. Comparing hotel breakfasts, researchers found that buffet guests wasted an average of 300 grams of food, while those who opted for à la carte meals left behind only 130 grams on average.
The non-profit Global Research & Consulting at the University of Berkeley sheds light on the magnitude of the food waste problem in buffets, as according to their findings nearly half of all the food goes to waste, contributing to a shocking 49 million tons of annual food waste in the United States alone. This amount is equivalent to a staggering 130 billion meals and is valued at over 408 billion dollars each year. In fact, the impact of food waste extends far beyond the hospitality industry and hotel/restaurant buffets, with the US foodservice industry alone discarding more than 20 million tons of food annually (while the worldwide figure amounts to approximately 1.3 billion tons per year).
Interestingly, researchers have found that even minor changes in hotel practices can lead to significant reductions in food waste. Simple measures like reducing plate sizes and encouraging guests to use the buffet multiple times have been shown to cut food waste by an impressive 20 percent. As for this specific initiative, it has garnered praise from both guests and environmentalists, with many expressing their support for the campaign on social media.
Images credits: Fly4free.pl
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