Workshops on food waste for students

MANY Malaysians are not aware that large amounts of the food that we buy and cook frequently ends up in the trash.

In fact, Malaysia wastes a staggering 15,000 tonnes of food per day, according to the Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Corporation of Malaysia.

This not only has a negative impact on our environment but affects the long-term availability of food. After two successful years with its #myhappyplate campaign, Electrolux Malaysia continues its drive to curb food waste among Malaysians.

This year, the company has worked together with Aiesec, a global platform for young people, to instil awareness of food wastage and its effect to both the environment and society at large.

Electrolux Malaysia and Aiesec conducted joint workshops in four schools, SMK Dengkil, SMK Putrajaya Precint 5, SMK Putrajaya Precint 9 and SMK Putrajaya Precint 16, to raise greater awareness of food waste and to inspire behavioural change among the young.

A total of 800 students participated in the programme and were introduced to various activities, such as educational workshops on food waste and its environmental impact, cooking demonstrations using leftovers, as well as ways to reuse leftovers to make healthy meals.

The students were also encouraged to come up with their own ideas on ways to curb food waste in their own homes.

Electrolux Malaysia and Brunei general manager Koh Soh Hoie said: “We are a brand that cares for the environment, and we want to make changes for the better by being a positive influence.

“To do that, the change must start with us.

“In 2016, we initiated the #myhappyplate campaign as part of our company’s food waste initiative aimed at helping to shape better living.

“We Malaysians are passionate about our food; however, various surveys have concluded that we have a significant issue with food waste,” he said.

Electrolux Malaysia is looking forward to continuing its efforts in educating the public on the impact of food waste and hopes that it can reach more people than previously.

“I believe we need to educate and encourage our younger generation to be more thoughtful of the less fortunate, and to educate them on the impacts of food waste on our society and environment.

“Together with Aiesec, I hope we can reach out to more young people with hopes that they will do their part in educating and helping their families plan better meals, and avoid wastage at home and in school,” said Koh.