An increasing number of citizens are embracing a zero-waste lifestyle, or at least attempting to reduce their dependence on plastic and non-recyclable items. At the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB), students and faculty members are looking at ways to reduce food waste. This academic year, they have taken a ‘zero waste on plate’ pledge.
G. Raghuram, Director, IIMB, said that the aim of the initiative is to encourage students to finish what’s on their plate, be conscious of portion size and the amount of food they actually need as opposed to what they put on the plate.
The idea has been doing the rounds since last year, and was discussed during the institute’s induction programme this year.
“We want students to rationalise what they take on their plate. Once they commit to it, they will have to factor in the long line of people waiting for their food,” said Prof. Raghuram. Students will have to be aware of portion size at events where food is served on their plate.
He added that the Akshaya Patra Foundation was roped in for talks and discussions around this theme.
Posters in the mess and canteen serve to remind students of the pledge: ‘Help us reduce food wastage. Please do not take more than you can consume’.
Food waste is a multi-billion dollar global problem. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations estimates that a third of the food produced in the world for human consumption every year — approximately 1.3 billion tonnes — gets lost or wasted.