No hunger 2023
Impact of students
The University measures the amount of food waste generated from food served. The University segregates Food Waste from the central campus kitchen. ReFood UK collect food waste weekly and transport it to their anaerobic digestion plant in Doncaster. Between September 2022 and September 2023 an average of 1603kg/month has been diverted from incineration each month. The increase on last year has been due to improvement in food waste segregation through the use and collection of food waste bins in outlets.
The introduction of Too Good To Go has resulted in 534 meals (178 Magic Bags) being sold since implementation in November 2023. Each magic bag contains food that is approaching its use-by date that would be otherwise wasted. This food is sold at a third of its retail price. Introducing Too Good to Go has helped to reduce food waste whilst offering a high-value food option throughout the cost of living crisis.
We respond effectively to hunger among students, providing appropriate support to ensure need is met. This manifested in particularly acute ways during the lockdowns resulting from the Covid19 pandemic, and the University responded by providing welfare packs of food and other necessities for students who were in difficult circumstances while self-isolating.
The University provides sustainable food choices for all on campus, including vegetarian and vegan food. The University continues to be listed by the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) Foundation as one of the UK’s most vegan-friendly universities, saying: ‘The University of Huddersfield’s Veggie Hut opened its doors as a vegetarian café in 2019, quickly became a favourite on campus, and has now gone fully vegan. Its menu includes delights like blueberry croissants, vegan cheese toasties, and “fish” and chips made with banana blossom. Most of the eateries on campus have gone beef-free, and all have expanded their vegan offerings.’
Public and Business Engagement
The University engages more widely with sustainability in the food supply chain, for example supporting a project with farmers locally in the Holme Valley area, which considers land use and is associated with the Kirklees Climate Commission.
Research
The Centre for Sustainability, Responsibility, Governance and Ethics (SURGE) aims to bring together researchers, organisations, and communities with a passion for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030 and Net Zero by 2050, including many working on SDG2, No Hunger.
Membership is comprised of academic researchers and professionals stretching beyond the Centre’s home in Huddersfield Business School, to encompass many different academic disciplines, perspectives and methodological approaches.
Research in SURGE covers a range of substantive topics, including alternative economic models, sustainable production and consumption, food system transformation, and sustainable livelihoods.