Food Sector Advocates for Mandatory Reporting
3rd October 2024
Call for Mandatory Food Waste Reporting in the UK
Businesses across the UK’s retail, manufacturing, food service, and surplus food sectors have united in a call to the government for the introduction of mandatory food waste reporting for larger companies. An open letter directed to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) was sent on Sunday, coinciding with the fifth International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste (IDAFLW). The letter underscores the significant issues surrounding the scale of food waste in the country.
The Scale of Food Waste in the UK
Each year, the UK wastes approximately 10.7 million tonnes of food, equivalent to a staggering 15 billion meals. On a global scale, food waste accounts for between 8% and 10% of all carbon emissions, making it a pressing environmental concern that demands urgent action.
Industry Leaders Advocating for Change
The initiative for the open letter was spearheaded by Too Good To Go and the British Retail Consortium (BRC). Signatories include prominent companies such as Aldi, Nestlé, Ocado, and Innocent Drinks. The letter highlights that food waste is one of the largest contributors to climate change, with the economic cost of wasted food in the UK reaching £21.8 billion annually.
Benefits of Mandatory Food Waste Reporting
The letter emphasises that prioritising waste reduction can enable businesses to “save money, enhance efficiency, and unlock innovation,” aligning with the government’s growth agenda. Moreover, it points out that countries that have implemented mandatory food waste reporting have seen a reduction in overall food waste.
For instance, in Austria, total food waste dropped by one million kilos between the first report in Q4 2023 and the report for Q2 2024.
A Urgent Call to Action
In conclusion, the open letter urges: “We call on the government to take immediate action. Mandatory food waste reporting is a crucial step towards a greener, faster-growing, and more resilient economy.” Implementing such reporting would represent a significant advancement in tackling food waste and help foster a more sustainable economic framework for the UK.