Woolworths and the newly opened Sydney Zoo have announced a partnership this week.
Through the Woolworths Stock Feed for Farmers program, Sydney Zoo will utilise the retailer’s surplus food as animal feed.
Addressing a large problem
Woolworths says there is a $20 billion food waste problem in Australia.
In June, the retailer announced that 100 per cent of its supermarkets now have an active food waste diversion program in place.
The programs include rescuing surplus fresh food and distributing it to hunger relief charity partners, donating stock feed to farmers or sending it for commercial organic composting.
The new partnership
According to Woolworths, Sydney Zoo joins over 750 farmers and community groups from around the country who access surplus fresh food from the supermarket. Last year more than 32,000 tonnes of surplus food no longer suitable for sale or human consumption went to feed animals both on farms and in zoos.
“Food is meant to be eaten, not thrown – which is why together with our customers, farmers and community partners, we’re working to keep good food out of landfill,” Woolworths Head of Sustainability Adrian Cullen said.
“Working with our partners OzHarvest, Foodbank and Fareshare to feed Australian’s who would otherwise go hungry is our number one priority when it comes to diverting food from our stores.
“We then work with local farmers and the likes of Sydney Zoo, so that surplus food, which cannot go to hunger relief, is used as feed for animals or for on-farm composting, to help further reduce any food waste.
“It warms our hearts when we see the beautiful animals at Sydney Zoo excitedly munch or nibble on our surplus fresh food.”