Showtime Event Group is proud to be a key partner in the innovative Melbourne-Bandung Food Waste Challenge, a groundbreaking initiative that brings together Rocket Seeder, the City of Bandung (Indonesia), and the City of Melbourne in a collaborative effort to tackle one of our most pressing environmental challenges.
Launch Event Highlights
The challenge kicked off with an impactful event at Melbourne Town Hall’s Supper Room, setting the stage for meaningful dialogue and actionable strategies. Councillor Andrew Rose opened the proceedings, followed by Piers Grove, executive director of Rocket Seeder, who provided crucial insights into the challenge’s objectives and scope.
A Powerful Panel Discussion
Led by Caitlin Touzell, the General Manager at Rocket Seeder, the panel brought together experts from diverse sectors to unpack the complexities of food waste management:
Unpacking the Challenges
The panel dove deep into the intricate challenges of managing food waste across different industries. Leah Macpherson from Showtime Event Group highlighted the complexity of serving a diverse customer base, emphasising how varied dietary requirements and last-minute changes often lead to significant food waste.
Kelly Green from Queen Victoria Market echoed similar sentiments, noting the difficulties in creating standardised waste management approaches across multiple traders and customer segments. Gigi Yuen from Melbourne Airport shared complementary insights, particularly around the challenges of waste segmentation for the 35 million travellers passing through annually.
Innovative Waste Management Strategies
Participants discussed innovative approaches to waste education and management. Key takeaways included:
– The importance of teaching correct waste segmentation
– Strategies for working more closely with traders to reduce waste
– Addressing the challenges of food donation, including regulatory hurdles and logistical constraints
The Donation Dilemma
The panel didn’t shy away from addressing the challenges of food donation. Leah Macpherson emphasised the significant liability concerns for event organizers, while Kelly Green highlighted the shortage of volunteers in food charities and the difficulties in coordinating food collection.
A Global Perspective
The event concluded with a pre-recorded message from the Mayor of Bandung, underscoring the international collaboration at the heart of this challenge.
Learn More
For those interested in diving deeper into the Melbourne-Bandung Food Waste Challenge, click here to visit Rocket Seeder’s website for more information.
Together, we can make a difference – one meal at a time.
