Wardha Mamukoya, founder and managing director of Wa’hab is up against a very basic human need: food and how it is distributed. Her solution is to redistribute excess food to those in need, while promoting a circular economy based on the three R’s – reduction, re-using and recycling which promotes the values espoused in Qatar National Vision 2030, writes Aparajita Mukherjee.
BL: Talk us through the philosophy behind Wa’hab.
Mamukoya: Wa’hab’s philosophy is centered on reducing food waste and addressing food insecurity by creating a system to redistribute surplus food to those in need.
Simultaneously, we promote the principles of a circular economy by focusing on the reduction, reuse, and recycling of food waste, ensuring that resources are maximised and waste is minimised at every step. In essence, we aim to promote a circular economy where food waste is not discarded but repurposed. Surplus food is collected from restaurants, events, and businesses and redistributed to communities facing food insecurity.
However, we do not stop there. Non-edible food waste is recycled into compost, which can be used in local gardens and farms, creating a sustainable resource cycle. This approach aims to reduce waste in landfills while simultaneously contributing to agricultural sustainability.
In addition, the environmental benefits of food waste recycling extend far beyond composting. By diverting food waste from landfills, we prevent harmful greenhouse gases like methane from being released into the atmosphere. This is a significant step toward achieving Qatar National Vision 2030’s sustainability goals.
Furthermore, by involving the local community and businesses in our work, Wa’hab fosters a culture of environmental responsibility. Our initiatives aim to inspire a broader movement toward sustainability, helping to change how people view food waste – from a nuisance to a resource.
BL: What drove you to start Wa’hab?
Mamukoya: There is a Hadith of our Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) who is reported to have said: “He is not a believer who eats to his fill while his neighbour is hungry.” Pondering over this, I questioned how I could qualify to be a believer if I could not guarantee if my neighbors have eaten or not. And here again, if one were to go hungry, it was not because of a shortage of food.
Judging by the large amounts of good-quality food being thrown away at restaurants and events, there was enough food to feed everyone. The problem clearly wasn’t food shortage but the lack of an efficient system to connect surplus with those in need.
The environmental impact of food waste, a fact that many people fail to grasp, was another drive that motivated me to take action. Food waste contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions, particularly methane, which is released as food decomposes in landfills. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), landfilled food waste accounts for a significant portion of the methane produced worldwide. This environmental impact is often overlooked in conversations about food scarcity.
Wa’hab was born from my desire to create a platform that not only redistributes food to reduce hunger but also contributes to sustainability by tackling the environmental challenges associated with waste.
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