Giant Sand Sculpture Depicts Summer Food Waste on Bournemouth Beach
A remarkable sand sculpture, depicting the vast amounts of food wasted by Brits during the summer months, has been unveiled on Bournemouth beach. The sculpture, created by Cream cheese company Boursin in collaboration with Great British Bake Off star Manon Lagrève and charity FoodCycle, spans five meters in width and required eleven hours of work to construct.
The eye-catching artwork, conceptualized by Boursin, aims to shed light on the concerning issue of food wastage in the UK. The sculpture stands as a creative representation of the quantities of food that go to waste each year. Manon Lagrève, renowned for her participation in the Great British Bake Off, expressed her enthusiasm for the initiative, stating, “It’s a pleasure to be involved with such a fantastic initiative.”
Research findings indicate that some of the most frequently wasted food items include salad, bread, fresh vegetables, and dips. A poll involving 2,000 adults examined their food habits, revealing the primary reasons behind this wastefulness. Overstocking for events was cited by more than half of the respondents, while 66% attributed their food wastage to the heat. Other factors such as unplanned social events and a lack of motivation to cook contributed to the issue.
Concerns related to food preservation during warmer months were also highlighted by the study. About 37% of respondents expressed worries about food going stale more rapidly in hot weather. Managing the freshness and crispness of items (36%) and keeping food cool (31%) were additional concerns.
The study revealed that almost 39% of adults admitted to throwing away food because they lacked ideas on how to repurpose it. Around 43% of respondents confessed to discarding food at least once a week. Despite these challenges, 49% of participants expressed their appreciation for food as one of the best aspects of summer.
Boursin, taking an active role in addressing this issue, launched a beach-side bistro near the sculpture’s location. The bistro operates on a ‘pay-what-you-can’ basis, with all donations going to charity FoodCycle. TV personality Manon Lagrève has also curated a customized menu, offering innovative ways to utilize leftovers and minimize food waste. She said, “All of these dishes are super easy for everyone to re-create at home Et voilà!”
In the pursuit of preserving the summertime spirit, people can visit the Boursin Bistro until September 3rd, where they can find inspiration to reduce food waste and savor the delights of the season a little while longer.