One of the world's top photographers, Glasgow-born Rankin is returning to his hometown to launch a special open-air photography trail as world leaders arrive in the city for COP26.
Turning his lens on food waste, Rankin will be inviting locals and world leaders alike to take in the stunning photography trail, which features alluring but alarming images created from everyday food destined for the landfill.
Taking place across the city, the important photos can be seen from Sauchiehall Street to Bell Street.
It marks Rankin’s first exhibit in his home city since finding global fame as a renowned portrait photographer.
Known for capturing the world’s most famous faces, including The Queen, the top photographer is calling on Glaswegians to snap into action and filter their food waste as they would single-use plastics.
With just one kilogram of food waste producing the same volume of deadly carbon emissions as landfilling 25,000 500ml plastic bottles, the drive aims to highlight the hidden and hugely dangerous impact food waste has on climate change.
Speaking about the important new exhibition, Rankin said: “I had no idea that food waste is a bigger contributor to climate change than plastic.
"It’s quite literally feeding an epidemic that’s killing our planet.
“It’s time we viewed food waste through the same, if not a more dangerous lens, than single-use plastics.
“Shooting the plastic bottles out of food waste is my way of bringing this misconception into focus, especially when the solution is simple - just reduce the amount of food you throw away.”
Shot in collaboration with Zero Waste Scotland, the open-air photography trail is now live across Glasgow until the 19th November in the following locations:
1. Sauchiehall Street
2. Bath Street
3. Wellington Street
4. Broomielaw
5. Bell Street
Iain Gulland, Chief Executive at Zero Waste Scotland, said: “The sea change in attitudes to plastic over the last few years has been one of the most dramatic shifts in public consciousness around the environment we’ve ever seen. The same shift now needs to happen for food waste.
“Our research shows that most Scots think they are doing what they can for climate change, but the majority are unaware of the massive impact of food waste.
“We know people want to do their bit for the environment so our message is this – the easiest way you can fight climate change is by reducing the amount of food you waste. It’s as simple as that.”
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