Shanghai has made significant strides in curbing food waste, with a remarkable 50-percent reduction since the inception of the "Clear Your Plate" campaign in 2021.

This initiative, spearheaded by the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce, encourages individuals to finish all the food on their plates in public dining establishments, aiming to instill a culture of mindful consumption and reduce unnecessary waste.

During a recent meeting convened by the commission, representatives from the catering industry discussed the positive impact of the campaign.

It was announced that by the end of this year, Shanghai aims to have 100 restaurants serving as exemplars of the "Clear Your Plate" practice.

Restaurants across Shanghai have devised innovative strategies to combat food waste.

Some establishments have introduced new dishes crafted from ingredients that would typically be discarded, while others incentivize customers to finish their meals by offering complimentary desserts.

Certain restaurants have made it a policy for staff to remind patrons to order appropriate portion sizes and offer to pack up any leftovers, with staff bonuses tied to the effectiveness of waste reduction measures.

Renowned establishments like Xing Hua Lou have implemented comprehensive service protocols to ensure the success of the campaign.

New employees undergo training in these protocols, which cover everything from portion control during food preparation to efficient packaging of leftovers, ensuring that reheating preserves both flavor and texture.

Many restaurants have responded to the campaign by offering smaller and half-portioned dishes, despite the potential decrease in average spending per customer.

This shift has not only helped reduce waste but has also led to higher levels of customer satisfaction.

Jin Peihua, deputy secretary-general of the Shanghai Restaurants Cuisine Association, lauded the efforts of the commerce commission in driving the campaign forward, noting the substantial progress made in cutting food waste by half.

Looking ahead, the campaign will focus on three key areas: expanding the number of exemplary restaurants to 100, collecting and promoting successful case studies for broader adoption, and enhancing personnel training within the catering industry to ensure widespread participation and support for the initiative, according to the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce.

Source: Shanghai Observer