
What is SurplusToPurpose?
S2P is a not-for-profit environmental enterprise which aims to reduce food waste and food packaging entering landfill through the interception and redistribution of surplus food. They work closely with suppliers, supermarkets and large distributors to stop the needless disposal of viable foodstuffs which are marked for landfill due to being past the Best Before date, suffered aesthetic-only damage, or be in excessive supply.
Where does the surplus food go?
When the surplus produce arrives on-site, it is quality-checked to ensure only edible foodstuffs are made available. Next, it is processed and priced up (between 10% to 50% RRP) and sent to the SurplusToPurpose supermarket.
Additionally, the Free Food for Schools program enables any education provider to collect unlimited produce for free, in an effort to support thousands of children across the region. All they need to do is provide their S2P School ID when they finish their shop; it is truly unlimited. Each school is able to keep a running total of the food they have helped save from landfill, providing a quantitative report of the impact they have made.
Lastly, surplus food or products which can be packed up and shipped internationally is sent to areas of the world where poverty is rife, such as Ukraine and Palestine.
How did Eden get involved?
On 12th July 2024, four learners from settings in Leeds, one skills coach and one support staff member arrived on-site ready to learn about the process and assist in their aim. Following a health and safety introduction by SurplusToPurpose founder Adam Smith, the journey of surplus produce through the warehouse was depicted.
Due to an injury, one learner was unable to assist with tasks involving lifting. However, she thrived when interacting with the general public and was tasked with serving the local community in the supermarket. This experience provided an insight into “how many people in the community do come and use [the supermarket] and how it can support them in saving money when buying food.”
The learner spoke about how impactful S2P is on the local community and how it felt great to give back.
The rest of the team assisted with processing foodstuff, which had been quality-checked, into suitable containers for reselling and priced up accordingly.
Following a restructuring on the processing area, which involved a lot of teamwork and communication skills to ensure the task was completed efficiently and without injury, the team worked hard to price up hundreds of items and stock the supermarket.
“Price tagging the food to go on the shelves” was a favourite task for one learner, who was shocked by “how much food is wasted” on a daily basis.
Another impactful takeaway from this experience was learning “how much stuff we actually wasted because of little reasons, like printing mistakes”, with several tonnes of surplus drinks being delivered due to a label-printing error which was 2° out of kilter.
Without S2P, tonnes of viable drinks and plastic packaging would have entered landfill needlessly.
A quick stop for lunch allowed the team to try some hot food cooked by Adam (an ex-Chef by trade) with surplus fresh food donated by supermarkets.
Despite not knowing being able to identify most of the ingredients, the tomato-based pasta was a hit! In fact, one learner stated, “Seeing how food can be saved and seeing and tasting an example of the food being used to cook” was the favourite moment in their day.
The final task involved separating out waste by type, whether it be cardboard, clear LDPE, coloured LDPE, food waste or other materials.
Very little waste actually enters landfill due to this sorting process, with cardboard being recycled, food being composted, and scrap LDPE being compressed and sold to plastic recycling centres (a lesser-known practice in the UK).
What was the impact?
Engaging with the local community through volunteering at SurplusToPurpose had a profound impact on all who attended, broadening their understanding of diverse social environments and enhancing their sense of community belonging.
This exposure fostered empathy and cultural awareness, which are crucial for nurturing young children from varied backgrounds.
Such involvement not only encouraged personal growth but also promoted adaptability and a deeper appreciation for collaborative efforts aimed at societal improvement.
Through this experience, our learners learned to reflect wisely on their actions, behave with integrity, and cooperate well with others.
Engaging in selfless activities cultivated virtues like kindness, patience, and responsibility, which are essential for nurturing young children.
These traits were fundamental in motivating them to pursue excellence in both their professional roles and personal lives.
Moreover, the volunteer experience helped learners grasp the importance of actively contributing to society by demonstrating the tangible impact of their efforts on those in need.
It reinforced the value of civic responsibility and community support, showing how their contributions could make a significant difference.
This realisation inspired them to engage more actively in societal issues and emphasised the role of collective efforts in fostering a supportive and inclusive community, a crucial lesson for both their professional and personal development.
