Two academics from the University of Reading enjoyed an early-morning tour of New Covent Garden Market (NCGM) during June, learning about the estate’s award-winning recycling facility and how the Market’s eco-system functions.

As the UK grapples with food waste and supply chain resilience, NCGM is increasingly being viewed not just as a vital trading hub, but also a blueprint for a more sustainable system, setting a benchmark for food waste reduction and recycling.

Dr Eugene Mohareb (above centre), an Associate Professor in Sustainable Urban Systems, visited the Market with colleague Dr Jessica Bosseaux (above left), a Postdoctoral Research Associate, to tour the Market's estate and learn more about NCGM's recycling facilities from Mitie's Gary Roberts (above right).

The visit was part of the duo's research for a project focused on reducing fresh produce waste across food supply chains, looking at the entire sector from wholesale and distribution through to food service and retail. The aim is to better understand where and why fresh produce losses arise across the supply chain and to come up with potential solutions.

Focusing on NCGM’s strategic role in London’s fresh produce system, Eugene was highly impressed by the Market’s work in promoting sustainability. “I was expecting a sprawling space, but it’s very compartmentalised and efficient,” he said. “What struck me most during the visit was the scale of the operation and how organised the recycling system is.”

The Market’s waste-tracking infrastructure, with each bin linked to a specific wholesaler, also impressed Eugene. “That allows businesses to measure waste precisely, with every kilo of waste generated then captured,” he said. “Having that detailed tracking speaks to a level of sophistication in waste management and helps make the right decisions around food waste mitigation.” The system is complemented by what Eugene described as ‘impeccable’ cleanliness. “In terms of sanitation, the Market is spotless. It’s as clean as a supermarket only a couple of hours after trading.”

The researchers are keen to work collaboratively with food sector partners to identify practical, scalable interventions that reduce waste while supporting commercial viability. “We see wholesalers as an integral stakeholder in determining when and how food loss and food waste are occurring through things like specification, and variations in seasonal and annual demand,” Eugene explained. “There are many decisions made on the wholesale side that will then influence where there's going to be loss and waste throughout the supply chain.”

Summing up the visit, he said it was fantastic to see such robust food waste mitigation on-site, particularly the Market’s relationship with food redistribution charity City Harvest, which has operated a distribution centre at NCGM since January 2024. At the last count, that facility was estimated to have played its part in delivering 900,000 meals to people who need it most. Food waste that cannot be reused is diverted to anaerobic digestion facilities, where it is turned into biogas that in turn, powers the waste collection trucks that visit the Market.

“What we saw at NCGM was a very lean operation capturing both the recyclable material waste, but also the food waste,” said Eugene. “You've got substantial food redistribution and having City Harvest on site to collect excess food is an essential part of that. These systems are integral and without them, it becomes much harder to manage food waste effectively.”

Wanda Goldwag, Covent Garden Market Authority Chair, said: “NCGM has always been committed to reducing waste and supporting our communities, so we’re delighted that the University of Reading has chosen us as a case study. It’s a real endorsement of the work being done across the Market. We’re proud to play our part and very happy to be seen as what ‘good’ looks like in the food redistribution and recycling worlds.”

NCGM will continue to support this project over the months ahead by introducing academics to wholesalers across the Market's estate, to further enable the University’s research.