Cutting Food Waste at Work: Expiration Dates & Smart Buying

Read/Listen first

This morning, I was reviewing our office pantry and I noticed that several items were close to their expiration date, although they still looked fine. While I was sorting the shelves, I realised I had thrown food away too quickly in the past. Since we started tracking waste, we have saved money and we have donated unsold snacks to a local charity partner instead of binning them. Yesterday, a colleague was checking labels and said he relied only on the date, but I suggested we should also use common sense and storage rules. If we planned portions better, we would buy fewer duplicates and rotate stock before meetings. Next quarter, we are going to run a quick audit, and we will share a simple checklist so everyone knows what to keep, freeze, or donate. We are also keeping an eye on shrinkflation so we can compare package size, not just price.

⚡ Learning goals

• Can explain why an item is kept or thrown away, using evidence from labels and storage conditions.
• Can give practical advice to reduce waste and plan workplace purchases.
• Can compare package size and price to spot shrinkflation and make a cautious decision.

✨ Key language

• close to the expiration date “This cereal is close to the expiration date, so let’s use it first.”
• rely on the label “I don’t rely on the label alone; I also check storage rules.”
• keep an eye on shrinkflation “We’re keeping an eye on shrinkflation to compare sizes fairly.”

⚙️ Rules & Grammar — 4 Structures

1️⃣ Present perfect (results & trends)

Rule: Use the present perfect to talk about changes/results up to now, without focusing on a finished time.
Examples: We have saved money since we started tracking waste.; We have donated unsold snacks instead of binning them.; We have already reduced waste by rotating pantry items.
Common pitfall + fix: Using past simple with no finished time: “We saved money.” — Use present perfect when the period is still ‘up to now’: “We have saved money.”.

2️⃣ Past continuous (background actions)

Rule: Use the past continuous for an action in progress in the past, often as background to another past action.
Examples: While I was sorting the shelves, I noticed items close to the expiration date.; My colleague was checking labels when we discussed storage rules.; While we were reviewing the pantry, we were comparing package sizes.
Common pitfall + fix: Mixing past simple and past continuous randomly. — Use past continuous for the ongoing action and past simple for the shorter event..

3️⃣ Second conditional (would) for advice

Rule: Use if + past simple, would + base verb to talk about hypothetical situations and advice.
Examples: If we planned portions better, we would buy fewer duplicates.; If we bought smaller quantities, we would avoid throwing food away.; If everyone followed the checklist, we would donate more efficiently.
Common pitfall + fix: Using “will” in the if-clause: “If we will plan…” — Use past simple in the if-clause: “If we planned…”.

4️⃣ Linkers: although / while / before / unless

Rule: Use linkers to add contrast or time and to make your message more precise in professional contexts.
Examples: Although items were close to the expiration date, they still looked fine.; While I was reviewing the pantry, my colleague was checking labels.; We will share a checklist before the next quarter starts.
Common pitfall + fix: Using a linker that doesn’t match the meaning. — Choose although for contrast, while for parallel actions, before for earlier time, unless for a condition..

✍️ Vocabulary

  expiration date

Meaning: the date after which a product may not be at its best quality or safety
Synonyms: use-by date, best-before date
Chunk/Idiom: close to its expiration date
Example: We moved the yogurt forward because it was near its expiration date.
Morphology: noun (date phrase)
Self-practice: Write one work-related sentence with “expiration date”.

  unsold

Meaning: not bought by customers; still in stock
Synonyms: leftover, unpurchased
Chunk/Idiom: unsold stock
Example: The café offered unsold sandwiches at a discount.
Morphology: adj. (past participle)
Self-practice: Write one work-related sentence with “unsold”.

  donate

Meaning: to give something for free to help others
Synonyms: give, contribute
Chunk/Idiom: donate to a charity
Example: We decided to donate extra snacks to a local charity.
Morphology: verb
Self-practice: Write one work-related sentence with “donate”.

  rely on

Meaning: to depend on something as your main guide
Synonyms: depend on, count on
Chunk/Idiom: rely on the label
Example: Some shoppers rely on labels instead of checking storage conditions.
Morphology: verb phrase
Self-practice: Write one work-related sentence with “rely on”.

  shrinkflation

Meaning: when package sizes get smaller but prices stay similar
Synonyms: downsizing, hidden inflation
Chunk/Idiom: notice shrinkflation
Example: We noticed shrinkflation when the pack looked identical but contained fewer units.
Morphology: noun
Self-practice: Write one work-related sentence with “shrinkflation”.

  cautious

Meaning: careful to avoid risk or waste
Synonyms: careful, prudent
Chunk/Idiom: be cautious about waste
Example: I’m cautious about buying in bulk when our schedule changes.
Morphology: adj.
Self-practice: Write one work-related sentence with “cautious”.

☁️ Examples (+ audio)

🔊 Play We have already reduced waste by rotating pantry items before every client meeting.

🔊 Play While I was checking labels, my colleague was comparing sizes to spot shrinkflation.

🔊 Play If we bought smaller quantities, we would avoid throwing unsold snacks away.

🔊 Play Next month, we are going to donate surplus items and will share the checklist with the team.

✏️ Exercises

Grammar

Vocabulary & Comprehension

✅ Guided practice

Mini-dialogue:

A: I’ve noticed we’re wasting snacks that are still fine.
B: I agree—although the date matters, we should rotate stock and donate the unsold items.
A: If we used the checklist, we would buy fewer duplicates and save money.

Why this matters:

Small habits in shared spaces add up fast. A clear process reduces waste and avoids awkward team debates. It also supports your CSR goals.

Verb & Adjective Pack:

rotate stock — “We rotate stock before meetings.”
bin it — “Don’t bin it if it’s still safe.”
cost-effective — “Smaller packs can be more cost-effective.”

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