In Canada, close to 60% of all the food produced is lost or wasted every year, and it’s estimated that grocery stores are directly responsible for 1.31 million tonnes of food waste. That’s the equivalent of the weight of more than 10 CN Towers!

This is all-around bad for people and the planet. By throwing away tons of edible food every day, supermarkets fuel the climate crisis and contribute to food insecurity. 

Canada’s major supermarket chains have a corporate responsibility to reduce their carbon footprint and to do their bit to help millions of vulnerable Canadians.

It’s time for them to commit to #ZeroFoodWaste by 2025. Take part in our online day of action and call on the President and CEOs of Metro, Sobeys and Loblaw to commit to a zero edible food waste target. 

Tweet supermarket chains

Loblaw

., Sarah Davis said “we are in the business of providing food to Canadians, not wasting it.” Prove it! Commit to by 2025
Tweet
., in Canada, 1 in 8 households are facing , while you throw away tonnes of food every year. Commit to by 2025.
Tweet
., Canadian retailers are responsible for 1.31 million tonnes of wasted food every year, fueling the . Commit to
Tweet

Sobeys

., 1 in 8 households in Canada are facing , while you throw away tonnes of food every day. Commit to .
Tweet
Canadian retailers are responsible for 1.3 million tonnes of wasted food every year, fueling the ., commit to by 2025
Tweet

Metro

., 1 in 8 households in Canada are facing , while you throw away tonnes of food every day. Commit to .
Tweet
Canadian retailers are responsible for 1.3 million tonnes of wasted food every year, fueling the ., commit to
Tweet
Food waste in a supermarket’s dumpster

Comment on Facebook or Instagram

Copy and paste the text below as a comment under Loblaw’s, Sobeys’ and Metro’s last post on Facebook or Instagram, or share and tag the companies in a story.

Loblaw: Facebook and Instagram

Sobeys: Facebook and Instagram

Metro: Facebook and Instagram

In Canada, food waste emissions contribute to the equivalent of 56.6 million tons of CO2 per year Supermarket chains like yours play a major role in this broken system, from policies that result in good food never making it onto the shelves, to marketing campaigns that convince customers to buy more than they need. It’s time you do your share to tackle the #ClimateCrisis. Commit to #ZeroFoodWaste by 2025! https://act.gp/2Th0MuK
In Canada, supermarkets are directly responsible for 1.31 million tonnes of wasted food every year, equivalent in weight to 10 CN Towers. As a major supermarket chain, you have a responsibility to stop fueling the climate crisis and do your bit to tackle food insecurity. Commit to #ZeroFoodWaste by 2025! https://act.gp/2Th0MuK
In Canada, supermarkets throw out tons of edible food everyday, when 1 in 8 households are facing food insecurity. Feed people, not landfills! Commit to #ZeroFoodWaste by 2025! https://act.gp/2Th0MuK

Call the companies’ customer service

Loblaw: 1-888-495-5111

Sobeys: 1-888-944-0442

Metro: 1-844-777-7611

You can use the sample phone script below. 

Hi, 

I’m calling because as a major Canadian supermarket chain, your company has a responsibility to help tackle the climate crisis and food insecurity by reducing food waste. 

In Canada, close to 60% of the food produced is lost or wasted every year, and it’s estimated that grocery stores are directly responsible for 1.31 million tonnes of wasted food. 

This is all around bad for people and the climate, especially when we’re facing a climate crisis and a pandemic. 

Will you go beyond your public commitments and commit to zero food waste by 2025? That includes:

  • Diverting unsold food, both edible and nutritious, to community food programs;
  • Stopping pressuring producers for aesthetic perfection and work with your suppliers to reduce food waste and loss;
  • Donating food no longer fit for human consumption to farms;
  • And ceasing using “best before” dates where it doesn’t constitute a safety issue.

Thank you.

Food waste in a supermarket’s dumpster

Send an email

Loblaw: [email protected]

Sobeys: [email protected]

Metro: [email protected]

You can use the sample email below. 

Hi, 

In Canada, close to 60% of the food produced is lost or wasted every year, and it’s estimated that grocery stores are directly responsible for 1.31 million tonnes of wasted food. 

This waste takes a heavy toll on our climate and contributes to food insecurity.

As we’re facing a climate crisis and a pandemic that has left millions of people having trouble putting food on their table, and as a major Canadian supermarket chain, you have a responsibility to do your bit.

Today, I am requesting that you go beyond current public commitments, and commit to zero edible food waste by 2025 by taking the following steps: 

  • Divert (not destroy) unsold food, both edible and nutritious, to food rescue and community food programs;
  • Donate goods no longer fit for human consumption to farms for use as animal feed or compost;
  • Cease using best before dates where it does not constitute a food safety issue;
  • Stop pressuring producers to provide 100% aesthetic perfection and work with your suppliers to reduce food waste and loss.

Sincerely,

Your name

Thank you for everything you do!