Sort, Save, Sustain: A Hands‑On Food Rescue & Waste‑Reduction Experience
Join us for Sort, Save, Sustain—a unique learning and volunteering experience designed to empower participants to take meaningful climate action on food waste at home and in the community. Food waste is one of the most overlooked drivers of climate change, and tackling it is one of the fastest, most effective ways individuals and communities can reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The event begins with an engaging 1‑hour education session on reducing household food waste. Each year, Canada wastes enough edible food to feed 17 million people, even as demand for charitable food programs continues to rise. When food is wasted, all the resources used to grow, transport, and store it—land, water, energy, and labour—are wasted too, and food sent to landfill produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas.
In this workshop, we’ll explore key findings from Second Harvest’s research report The Avoidable Crisis of Food Waste: Update. Participants will learn how much good food is lost across the supply chain, what Second Harvest is doing to address this crisis, and how individual actions can significantly reduce emissions while supporting food security.
By the end of the session, participants will be able to:
Understand the scale of Canada’s food‑waste crisis and its environmental and social impacts
Recognize food-waste reduction as a powerful climate solution that individuals can act on immediately
Apply practical storage tips to keep food fresher for longer
Confidently interpret best‑before dates to prevent unnecessary waste
Following the education session, participants will put their learning into action during a Food Sort. This hands‑on volunteer activity helps prepare Second Harvest’s rescued food donations for delivery to non‑profit organizations across the GTA. By sorting rescued food, participants directly prevent edible food from going into landfill - reducing greenhouse gas emissions - while ensuring nutritious food reaches people who need it.
Perfect for teams, community groups, or anyone passionate about sustainability, Sort, Save, Sustain connects everyday food decisions to real-word climate impact. Come ready to learn, sort, and take action for a more sustainable and equitable food system.
About the Host:
Second Harvest is Canada’s largest food rescue organization, leading the country in redirecting surplus, nutritious food to non‑profits while preventing it from going to landfill. Their mission—“No Waste. No Hunger.”—guides their work to keep good food on plates and reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions.
A global thought leader in food waste reduction, Second Harvest combines food rescue, research, education, and innovative tools like the Food Rescue App to connect businesses with local charities. They operate nationwide, supporting thousands of community programs and helping build a more sustainable, equitable food system across Canada.
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