Food waste petition collects 200,000 signatures
Posted February 28, 2019 11:48 pm.
Last Updated March 1, 2019 12:03 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
KELOWNA (NEWS 1130) – In the year since he launched a petition to end food waste in Canada, a Grade 12 student in Kelowna has learned more about lobbying and policy-making than he would in any classroom.
And Justin Kulik’s efforts are paying off.
Over 200,000 people have added their signatures to the cause.
Kulik’s aim is to get the federal government to adopt legislation to prevent supermarkets from throwing out perfectly edible food.
In the past year, the 17-year-old has managed to go to Ottawa to meet the federal agriculture minister- while not missing a single day of school.
He’s happy many Canadians feel as strongly as he does. “I do definitely see the amount of traction that his petition is getting. That over 200,000 people stand behind me asking that this unnecessary waste stop is truly heartwarming.”
While his classmates might be fixated on graduation, Kulik is focussed on what needs to be done to further his campaign. He’ll be attending the Centre for Civic Governance Forum at the end of March. He’s also hoping to eventually meet with the province’s agriculture minister.
And he points out this is a crucial year.
“I do hope that this will be brought up, more so because this is an election year. I would like to see politicians take this one and make a firm commitment.”
Meantime, supermarket chains such as Save-on-Foods have taken on their own challenge to reduce food waste. Last year, Save-On launched a goal to reduce its food waste by 50 per cent by 2025. So far the store says it has rolled out a food waste diversion program in nearly 100 of its 170 stores. It has partnered with Food Banks BC, Mesh Exchange (dba FoodMesh), and Loop Resources to divert unsold but edible foods from the landfill.
Kulik applauds the move, but feels a law, like the one in France, would be most effective.
“Overall, just with the vast array of supermarkets across Canada, implementing this through policy or legislation is the way to go.”
A report by the Value Chain Management Centre estimates $31 billion worth of food gets thrown out in Canada every year.
