The #WhatAWaste Campaign:

Last year, France passed a new law forbidding supermarkets from throwing out and deliberately destroying food that can still be eaten. Instead, supermarkets must donate all unsold food products to local organizations. 

According to the UN, nearly a THIRD of all food produced globally is wasted - that's 1.2 billion tons of wasted food a year. North America wastes the most food, at almost 660 pounds per person per year. In Canada, while thousands of people struggle daily to feed their families and food banks desperately search for enough food to feed them, $31-billion worth of food is wasted every year.

In a world struggling with poverty and hunger, food waste is a disgrace.

This petition urges the Government of Canada to:

• Bar supermarkets from throwing out and intentionally destroying unsold, still edible food
• Require supermarkets to donate goods no longer fit for sale to charities or to farms for use as animal feed or compost
• Require supermarkets to donate goods that have been wrongfully packaged or damaged, but that remain edible

We are well aware of the logistical and legal issues that critics of this petition may be quick to bring up. Liability is a significant concern, as are the operational capacities of food banks and charities, and logistical concerns regarding the transportation of excess food. We are also aware that this legislation is an issue to be addressed at both the provincial and federal levels, and will ensure that our research, proposals, and calls for action are brought to leaders at all levels of the political spectrum. 

Our attitude is one of progress, positivity, and problem-solving. This task is not impossible: both the French and Italian governments have successfully drafted legislation that addresses a range of potential problems and issues. We believe in using their legislation as a model, building and adapting their progress to suit the specific needs of Canadian food policy. The groundwork exists: we are advocates of collaboration and development, and believe that Canada can and should build on existing frameworks to implement anti-food waste policies country-wide. 

There are issues that need to be addressed when developing any new legislation. The ultimate fact driving this petition is that Canadians of all ages suffer from hunger on a daily basis. They deserve better. Addressing the absurd levels of waste in Canadian supermarkets is the first step to restructuring our national food policy and ensuring a smarter, more sustainable future for all Canadians.  

In France, this new law all began with a petition that gained 200,000 signatures. Our goal is gain 100,000+ signatures and attract national media attention while developing concrete policy proposals and developing a pilot project. We also plan to develop a legal advisory committee and put together a report to supplement this petition. Once we have gained at least 100,000 signatures, we will have the platform to arrange a meeting with government representatives and push this petition in front of both provincial and federal policymakers.

Right now, we need your voice and your support. Please sign and share this petition to help us bring this law to Canada!

Use the #WhatAWaste hashtag when sharing or discussing this campaign on Twitter and Facebook! 

***Visit our website: www.wawcampaign.ca!***