Across North East and North Cumbria, there is growing recognition that food waste and food insecurity are closely linked challenges that require coordinated, system-wide approaches.
Recent research and improvement work across the region highlights how combining insight with practical action can help address both.
Research supported by the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) North East and North Cumbria shows how social supermarkets are helping communities access affordable food while reducing surplus food waste.
These models provide a more dignified, choice-based alternative to emergency food aid, enabling people to select their own food while reducing stigma.
However, the research also highlights an important limitation: while social supermarkets make a valuable local contribution, they do not address the wider systemic causes of food insecurity and food waste, such as poverty, inequality and overproduction in the food supply chain.
For more detail on the research findings, visit the ARC NENC website.
Alongside this research, practical improvement work is already underway across the system.
The recent Food Waste Reduction Workshop, delivered as part of the NENC ICB Sustainability Programme, supported organisations to reduce food waste while improving outcomes across health and care.
Using the Triple Lock approach, the workshop brought together three core priorities:
Through a structured approach, organisations were supported to:
This creates a consistent, system-wide way of turning sustainability into measurable improvement.
Building on this work, further opportunities to get involved are already planned. A follow-up workshop focusing on reusable tourniquets will take place in the autumn, continuing the focus on practical, sustainable improvement.
To find out more or get involved, please contact [email protected]
Together, these examples highlight the importance of connecting research, local innovation and system leadership:
Both reinforce the need to deliver solutions that improve outcomes across people, communities and the environment, rather than focusing on one area alone.
Addressing food waste and food insecurity requires a whole-system perspective – one that links community-led approaches, research evidence and structured improvement.
By continuing to share learning, strengthen partnerships and embed sustainability into everyday practice, there is a real opportunity to deliver lasting impact across North East and North Cumbria.
