Tackling Food Waste with the Jump Foodwise Challenge
At Jump, we’re passionate about creating innovative ways to engage people in sustainability. From October to December 2024, we ran our highly impactful Foodwise Challenge. This campaign encouraged participants to reduce their food waste, one of the most pressing global environmental issues, by offering fun and engaging actions that earned Green Points.
The results were inspiring, with participants collectively reducing waste, saving money, and cutting down on emissions. Here’s how the Foodwise Challenge made a difference.
What Was the Foodwise Challenge?
The Foodwise Challenge was designed to raise awareness about the environmental impact of discarded food and encourage sustainable habits. During the campaign, participants earned Green Points by completing limited-time actions through our platform. These actions included:
- Waste No More Checklist
A series of five weekly actions designed to minimise avoidable food loss, tracked via our Impact Tracker. - Food Waste 101
An educational PDF factsheet highlighting the global challenges of wasting food and its environmental consequences. Learn more about the scale of the issue in this UNEP Food Waste Report. - Pass the Plate
Participants shared photos of creative dishes they made using leftovers, inspiring others to do the same. Explore tips on cooking with leftovers from WRAP. - My Food Waste Goal
Members set personal goals to tackle specific habits contributing to wasted resources, helping them develop lifelong sustainable practices.
These actions were easy to complete, accessible, and catered to people at different levels of their sustainability journey.
What Did We Achieve?
The results of the Foodwise Challenge were remarkable. Across 28 participating schemes, participants achieved the following:
- 95,467kg of food waste saved
- £262,538 saved
- 331,539kg of CO₂e avoided
These numbers showcase how small actions, when multiplied across a community, can lead to substantial environmental and financial impacts.
Engagement and Feedback
The campaign wasn’t just about numbers—it was also about engaging participants and learning from their experiences. We conducted a survey with a £30 raffle incentive, receiving 859 responses—a 91% increase compared to our previous survey.
The feedback highlighted that many participants found the actions engaging and impactful. While some mentioned they were already taking sustainable steps, the challenge inspired others to adopt new habits and think more critically about their food management practices.
Why Food Waste Matters
Globally, discarded food is responsible for about 8–10% of greenhouse gas emissions. Reducing it is not only an environmental necessity but also an opportunity to save money and support communities. Simple actions like meal planning, using leftovers, and composting can collectively make a significant difference. Check out this ScienceDirect article to understand how behavioural nudges can encourage more sustainable habits.
By focusing on sustainable food practices, the Jump Foodwise Challenge empowered participants to take tangible steps toward a more sustainable future.
Join the Fight Against Food Waste
At Jump, we’re committed to helping organisations engage their people in sustainability. Whether it’s through innovative campaigns like the Foodwise Challenge or bespoke engagement programmes, we make sustainable actions accessible and rewarding.
Want to learn how Jump can help your organisation reduce food-related waste? Request a demo today or join our mailing list for tips, tricks, and updates on sustainability.
Together, we can create a future with less waste and more impact.
