Furniture giant IKEA aims to spark a conversation around UK food waste with the launch of a limited-edition apple juice, made from surplus fruit.

With an estimated 10.2 million tonnes of food and drink going unused across the UK each year, IKEA looks to spotlight the opportunity to unlock more value from everyday ingredients.

New consumer research by IKEA revealed that bread, lettuce,  and bagged salad are the most frequently binned foods.

Despite the volume of waste, 41 per cent of the 2000 people surveyed estimate they only waste £1-£5 a week, underestimating the true financial toll and potential savings that could be made. In fact, the research found the average four-person household is losing around £1,000 worth of food annually.

Customers can therefore also attend free ‘Waste Not, Want Not’ workshops until 13 June. Hosted in a selected number of stores, these workshops offer tips on storage, meal prep and ways to repurpose ingredients.

Each bottle of free ‘Great British Bin Juice’ includes a QR code unlocking 20% off Ikea’s 365+ food storage range. This includes  365+ food containers and lids to help preserve leftovers, as well as a food storage basket with a see through design.

Ikea UK’s country food manager Karen Hughes said: “We believe good food should always be valued and enjoyed. ‘Great British Bin Juice’ is a fun and simple way to show how ingredients, often overlooked, can be turned into something delicious.

“But most importantly, it’s about sharing practical solutions that can help individuals make more of the food they already have. When we rethink the value of what’s already in our kitchens, those small daily habits can make a big difference.”

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This initiative builds on IKEA’s commitment to reducing food waste across its business. Globally, it has cut food waste in its kitchens by 60% since 2017, helping to prevent the equivalent of 47.5 million meals from going to waste – reaching the UN’s 2030 target to halve food waste ahead of schedule.

Working in partnership with commercial waste solutions firm Winnow, IKEA has developed an AI-powered tool which tracks what gets thrown away, capturing the item, weight and cost. The group estimates that by implementing the technology it has saved over £14 million in IKEA UK over 10 years.

Furthermore, this has reduced its carbon emissions by the equivalent of taking 2,300 cars off the road.

‘Great British Bin Juice’ will be available at select Ikea stores including Birmingham, Bristol, Gateshead, Glasgow, Milton Keynes, Glasgow, Oxford Street and Wembley.