From Diwali to Halloween: NTPC & Kamala Harris on Food Waste
In early November, some neighbourhoods are still holding onto the remains of Halloween, with pumpkins weezing at the front window, while other neighbours' porches are glittering with Diwali fairy lights and marigold garlands. As the winter chill sets in for the Northern Hemisphere, celebrations start, gathering family and friends for food.
Yet while these festivals are a cause of great excitement for children and adults alike, there is a growing call for these celebrations to crank down on food waste, a topic which is of growing importance as food prices continue to rise.
Celebrating light at Diwali, while addressing food waste
The Hindu festival of lights, Diwali, symbolises the victory of light over darkness and good over evil. Typical Diwali foods include Gulab Jamun, deep-fried dough balls soaked in sugar syrup and savoury snacks including samosas, pakoras and chakli. Sadly, this can lead to a high volume of food waste.
Approximately 50 tonnes of excess waste is collected every year on the day after Diwali, compared to normal days. In the Indian city of Nagpur, the daily rubbish collection increased by almost 200 metric tonnes during Diwali.
“This Diwali, let’s light up our lives while being kind to our planet,” highlighted Oshin Manwani, Business Development & Marketing at NTPC Limited, who hopes to raise awareness around Diwali food waste. “You can make a difference, through a community potluck. Reduce food waste and share homemade dishes with friends and family. Together, let’s create a greener future this Diwali!”
Metabolic Health Advisor, Dheeraj Garg, is the Founder of IMHEALTHY.IN and his goal is to encourage those celebrating to think about the wider impact of all the extra food, particularly from a health perspective.
“Now that the lights are packed up, it’s time to face the mountain of leftover mithai,” he shared. “We Indians are practically born with the rule: Don’t waste food. So, come Diwali, when we’re bombarded with sweets from every friend, family member and distant neighbour, we’re left with a small mountain of mithai staring back at us. But as we keep munching, our waistlines start joining the festivities too.”
In 2023, Kamala Harris celebrated an early Diwali at her official residence as Vice President.
"We celebrate Diwali at a time when there's a lot happening in our world,” she said. “I think it's important that as we celebrate Diwali, which is about celebrating the light, we understand it is always in the context of understanding the contrast between light and dark moments."
Harris has been a long-time advocate for food waste reduction policies, championing efforts to decrease food waste through educational campaigns and incentives for businesses that adopt sustainable practices.
The food supply chain for Halloween’s pumpkins and treats
The National Retail Federation's (NRF) 2024 Halloween consumer survey projects total holiday spending to reach US$11.6bn. Pumpkins, autumn's iconic symbol, are in growing demand, with many consumers making early Halloween purchases.
The USDA reports that six states (Illinois, California, Indiana, Michigan, Texas, and Virginia) produce nearly half of all U.S. pumpkins. Typically requiring 90-120 days to mature, farmers plant in June for early autumn harvest.
The pumpkin supply chain involves growers, harvesters, transporters and retailers working to meet Halloween demand. The processed pumpkin product market is expected to grow 6.5% annually through 2028.
However, rising cocoa prices may impact Halloween treats. Cocoa costs have increased 9.6% due to poor West African harvests, averaging US$6.03 per kg. A 20.5% year-over-year increase in processed chocolate imports has helped stabilise supply, but budget-conscious decisions may be necessary for some treat-givers.
"We're focused on helping our customers celebrate Halloween without breaking the bank," says John Furner, CEO at Walmart US. "Our teams have worked hard to ensure we have a wide assortment of costumes, decorations and treats at everyday low prices."
Walmart has renewed its partnership with Denali, a waste and environmental services company, to provide food waste recycling at all U.S. locations.
About 72% of U.S. households plan to celebrate Halloween, with 67% intending to distribute sweets to Trick or Treaters. Confectionery manufacturers increase production 6-8 weeks before Halloween, planning 18-24 months ahead to meet demand. Sweet sales alone are expected to reach US$3.5bn, driven by trick-or-treating popularity and diverse candy offerings.
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