Working together to eliminate food waste

November 25, 2019 4mn
On average, a total of 15% of edible food is wasted daily. For the global business district as a whole, this makes for an estimated six to nine metric tons each and every day.

The facts are beyond dispute. On average, a total of 15% of edible food is wasted daily. For the global business district as a whole, this makes for an estimated six to nine metric tons each and every day.

To respond to the environmental and societal challenges presented by food waste, five companies based in the global business district of La Défense (Allianz, Arpège, Eurest, Mazars and SUEZ) chose to take action by creating “La Défense des Aliments”, a non-profit association founded on January 26, 2018.

With the support of Paris La Défense, this organization aims to unite all players throughout the global business district in a common fight against all forms of food waste. What is the plan? Sharing best practices, implementing mutual and collective initiatives to heighten the impact of such practices, as well as projecting the effects of these experiments beyond the borders of the global business district.

This is an unprecedented and groundbreaking project for a global district like Paris La Défense, reflecting a strong vision of corporate social and environmental responsibility. The “La Défense des Aliments” founding members and Paris La Défense made this commitment official on December 7, 2018, with the signature of an anti-food waste charter.

@Paris La Défense

Eleven additional companies have since joined the “La Défense des Aliments” association: Société Générale, MRS Groupe, Foncia IPM, ID Restauration, Exalt, Elior, Sodexo Entreprises, Engie, GRIE Carpe Diem, CBRE PM and InVivo.

In 2019, the members of the association carried out their first shared project, intended to measure food waste in company restaurants with the ultimate aim of sharing best practices and implementing relevant solutions, both individual and collective, to be circulated far and wide.

@ ARPEGE

Five sites located in Paris La Défense participated in this initiative: CB21 Towers, Allianz One, Egée, Exaltis and Grande Arche.

The project was carried out in several phases: audit, single methodology for all sites, follow-up of initiatives to develop an action plan and roll out high-priority solutions, impact assessment, evaluation and promotion of actions.

The results of the first audit of food waste within collective corporate catering facilities were announced at the conference held on May 16, 2019, with all stakeholders, members and participants of the project in attendance. Following the outcome of this initial experience, a guidebook of practical solutions was published.

This guidebook will be presented during the GBD Innovation Club Learning Expedition 2020 in Paris La Défense.