Green is the New Black – Elysia Catering

My “Green is the New Black” series has attracted the likes of many individuals, companies and businesses; all doing their bit to help preserve our beautiful planet. (Catch up on the very first post of the series here).  As soon as I heard from Sophie Andre, I knew I had to find out more about her unique eco-friendly business venture.  Sophie arrived in London from France in 2016 with a dream of supplying the businesses of London with delicious high quality breakfasts. After initially speaking to many food production companies Sophie became interested in London’s eco system, food wastage and whether it was possible to help reduce it.  Enter a whole new world – Surplus Food.

By definition, surplus is an amount of something left over when requirements have been met; or an excess.  Can you imagine how many food production companies there are and how much of their produce is wasted or perhaps discarded? Now imagine if someone decided to take that surplus and give it a second life? Ladies and Gentlemen, allow me to introduce you to the very wonderful Elysia Catering – The company turning surplus food in to breakfasts and canapés.

Did you know that food waste has a devastating impact on the environment?  I guess I had never really thought about it all that much.  But when you consider just how much food is sitting in landfills, decaying and producing potent greenhouse gases, it’s actually scary. (You can find more information on food waste and it’s impact on the environment at Love Food Hate Waste.)  So I admit I was fascinated by Sophie and Elysia’s seemingly simply idea to help reduce this food wastage.

Elysia is in partnership with over 25 independent producers of artisan food in London.  Mainly buying the “naturally imperfect” food which those businesses cannot use or excess due to supply and demand imbalance. Elysia transforms the surplus in to breakfast items and canapés. The fact that they have technically “rescued” this surplus food means that they can offer great tasting items at a reduced price.  The producer is still making money, the food isn’t being wasted and the consumer still gets a high end product – isn’t it just genius?  And because it’s never guaranteed whicht items there will be an excess of from each supplier, Elysia’s menus state that the type of vegetable, cheese etc is subject to availability.  So technically, you’re getting a pleasant surprise, but it will always be local and seasonal.  Having sampled some of Elysia’s wares personally, I can 100% vouch for the fact that they taste incredible.  You would never have any idea that they had been made from products that would have otherwise been thrown away.

Not content with just reducing the waste of food, Elysia also uses sustainable and compostable packaging.  As a big supporter of reducing single use plastic I absolutely loved the little glass jars and I think the handwritten labels are a delightfully personal touch.  There’s more…. Elysia only delivers their breakfast and canapé items around London on their very cute little pushbike to limit carbon emissions.

So does it actually make a difference?

Elysia Catering’s results speak for themselves.  Between 2016 and 2018 they rescued over 6 tonnes of artisan food. They have served their breakfast and canapés to 16,000 people in London.  They have saved about 1 tonne of CO2 by delivering their food by bicycle. They have gone on to discuss food surplus and sustainability to their suppliers and customers, therefore helping to raise much needed awareness.  So the answer is YES.  It does make a difference, a huge one in fact.  And I cannot reiterate enough just how simple a solution it seems to be and it’s one that I hope people continue to support.

As the well know idiom goes – “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.”  Sophie is proving day in and day out that this is in fact true with her incredible brain-baby Elysia Catering – The company turning surplus food in to breakfasts and canapés.

Thank-you so much for having me Elysia, it was an absolute pleasure to meet you and hear about the fantastic work you do.

Be sure to visit their website or instagram and give them some love.

Beth Anne xoxo