Stop Food Waste Day 2025: How Manchester Arndale is Fighting the Good Fight (with Magic Bags!)
Let’s face it, no one likes waste – especially when it comes to food. That last slice of pizza, the pastry you swore you’d save for later (but didn’t), or the forgotten salad at the back of your fridge. It all adds up. And on Stop Food Waste Day 2025, we’re taking a moment to reflect, reset and rethink how we treat what’s on our plate.
But here’s the thing: tackling food waste awareness isn’t just about remembering to finish your leftovers or saying no to overbuying (though every little helps). It’s about building systems that make a real difference – and at Manchester Arndale, we’re doing just that, every single day.
How We Process Food Waste
At Manchester Arndale, we’re big believers in sustainable living and we know our shoppers are too. That’s why, behind the scenes, we’ve got a sustainable setup to ensure that food waste from our cafes, bars and restaurant partners is handled properly too. It all starts with large 240-litre bins in our waste rooms, pre-lined with compostable bags. Retailers simply drop food waste straight in – no extra packaging needed. From there, the waste is transferred into a dedicated food waste compactor, which is emptied by our waste collection partner and sent off to be recycled through anaerobic digestion.
Never heard of it? Anaerobic digestion is a natural process where microorganisms break down food waste in an oxygen-free environment, producing renewable energy and nutrient-rich fertiliser. Basically, it turns leftovers into power—not landfill. It’s one of the many ways we’re backing sustainable living and working hard to reduce food waste right here in the heart of Manchester.
What’s Too Good To Go?
Of course, prevention is just as important as processing and that’s where our partnership with Too Good To Go comes in. We’re proud to work with the food-saving app that’s making it way easier to reduce food waste while scoring a seriously good deal. Think of it as a win for your stomach, your wallet and the planet.
Too Good To Go is the foodie hack you didn’t know you needed. Every day, your fave cafés, bakeries and restaurants have surplus food that’s perfectly edible but at risk of being binned. That’s where Magic Bags come in. They’re delicious mystery bundles of rescued food, sold at a fraction of the price. And guess what? Eighteen of our food & drink retailers at Manchester Arndale are on board!
That means whether you’re craving sushi, sandwiches or sweet treats, there’s a Magic Bag waiting for you. It’s like a lucky dip but with actual snacks.
Why it matters
Food waste isn’t just a guilt trip – it’s a global problem. In the UK alone, we chuck out over 9 million tonnes of food every year. That’s a lot of uneaten dinner. But with small changes and a bit of planning, we can all do our part. Food waste awareness is key and it starts right here.
From picking up a Magic Bag to planning meals more mindfully, every little helps. Plus, embracing food waste tips can save you serious cash (and who doesn’t love that energy in 2025?).
It’s that simple. Whether you’re a meal-prep queen or just someone who really loves a bargain, it’s a small step towards big impact – and a major move for anyone living that sustainable living life.
