FoodMesh to lead national effort to cut household food waste
At a time when climate anxiety is high and the cost of groceries is even higher, many Canadians are looking for practical ways to waste less and save more. That’s why the next chapter for Love Food Hate Waste—one of the country’s most influential food waste behaviour-change campaigns—comes at just the right time. Now, under the leadership of FoodMesh, a national leader in food recovery, the campaign is set to reach more households with the tools they need to make the most of their food.
Love Food Hate Waste, a nationally recognized campaign that has been helping Canadians waste less food since 2018, is now being led by FoodMesh, a Vancouver-based social enterprise that has already helped businesses across Canada rescue the equivalent of more than 63 million meals from going to waste. The merger marks a major milestone in the fight against food waste and a promising moment for Canadians looking for ways to make a difference—for their wallets and for the planet.
“Preventing food waste isn’t just the right thing to do—it makes social, environmental, and economic sense, now more than ever,” says Jessica Regan, CEO and Co-Founder of FoodMesh. “With food prices at an all-time high, none of us can afford to waste food. We’re thrilled to take on the Love Food Hate Waste campaign, building on our work with businesses and now empowering households with the tools they need to reduce food waste at home.”
The scale of the food waste crisis is staggering. In Canada, more than 60% of the food we throw away could have been eaten—amounting to roughly 140 kilograms per household each year. That waste costs the average family over $1,300 annually and adds up to a national total of 2.3 million tonnes of edible food wasted from homes alone. But food waste doesn’t just hit our wallets. It’s also a major contributor to climate change. Globally, food waste accounts for 8–10% of greenhouse gas emissions—more than the aviation industry. If food waste were a country, it would be the third-largest emitter on the planet.
And all of this waste is happening while one in four Canadians struggles with food insecurity.
That’s where Love Food Hate Waste comes in: to help Canadians waste less by doing more with what they have. With practical tips on meal planning, food storage, and making the most of leftovers, the campaign has helped millions of Canadians reduce their food waste since its launch by the National Zero Waste Council in 2018.
“Since introducing the campaign to Canada in 2018, we’ve created a strong foundation for addressing food waste in households,” says Craig Hodge, Chair of the National Zero Waste Council. “We are pleased to see FoodMesh take the helm of Love Food Hate Waste Canada and look forward to continuing to engage as a campaign partner.”
This merger also reflects the power—and necessity—of collaboration in addressing complex environmental challenges. Love Food Hate Waste brings together governments, community organizations, and businesses across sectors to amplify the message and share resources. From Metro Vancouver and the Capital Regional District in B.C. to RECYC-QUÉBEC and the City of Toronto, the campaign’s growing network of partners is united by a shared goal: a Canada in which no food is wasted.
“The City of Toronto has partnered on the Love Food Hate Waste initiative since 2018 and is excited to continue its support of the campaign with FoodMesh,” says Charlotte Ueta, Acting Director of Policy, Planning & Outreach at the City of Toronto. “Food waste reduction is a top priority that aligns with the City’s long-term Waste Management Strategy and efforts to reduce the amount of waste being sent to landfill. This campaign provides education and awareness to help the public be more aware of avoidable food waste at home and reduce their waste footprint.”
For RECYC-QUÉBEC, the campaign is part of their larger strategy to build a more circular food system. “At RECYC-QUÉBEC, we firmly believe that every action counts to reduce food waste,” says Emmanuelle Géhin, President and CEO of RECYC-QUÉBEC. “For several years, we have been actively involved alongside innovative organizations that share this vision. Through our various financial assistance programs, we have supported proactive organizations that, like us, want to have a positive impact. Thanks to our partners and initiatives, such as the pan-Canadian Love Food Hate Waste campaign, we help raise consumer awareness and offer them concrete solutions to make a real difference. Together, we can change our habits and consume better. ”
The impact is measurable. In Love Food Hate Waste’s most recent citizen challenge, 85% of participants said they reduced their household food waste by applying simple tips provided by the campaign. The initiative reached more than 3 million Canadians, attracted nearly 100,000 visits to its website, and created a thriving online community where people shared storage hacks, recipes, and creative ways to use up leftovers.
“The response has been incredibly encouraging,” says Regan. “It shows that when people are given the right tools and support, they want to do the right thing—for themselves and the environment.”
While governments and businesses play a critical role in system-level change, individual Canadians are the final link in the food chain. And that’s where small changes can have a big impact: planning meals to avoid overbuying, storing food properly so it lasts longer, and using up ingredients creatively instead of tossing them out. To help with that, www.lovefoodhatewaste.ca offers a wide range of practical tips, storage guides, and recipes to make it easier to waste less and save more.
As FoodMesh steps into this new chapter with Love Food Hate Waste, the call to action is clear: It’s time to turn good intentions into daily habits. And there’s strength in numbers.
“We’re always looking to team up with organizations that want to help Canadians make the most of the food they buy,” says Regan. “If you or your organization wants to join the campaign and join the fight against food waste, we’d love to hear from you.”
For more information—or to become a campaign partner—visit www.lovefoodhatewaste.ca or contact Megan Czerpak at lovefoodhatewaste@foodmesh.ca.
In a world where bad environmental news can feel overwhelming, Love Food Hate Waste’s new home with FoodMesh is a welcome reminder: positive change is possible, and it can start right in our own kitchens.
