International consumer goods corporations join forces to address the issue of food waste

The Consumer Goods Forum’s Food Waste Coalition of Action, consisting of 21 major global consumer goods retailers and manufacturers, has released its inaugural baseline report. Compiled by the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP), the report provides aggregated data on operational food surplus and waste, marking a crucial step in the industry’s commitment to transparency and action on food waste. The quantitative data, based on 2021 figures, reveals a total food waste of 2.12 million tonnes within the studied cohort, with 929,000 tonnes from retailers and the remainder from manufacturers. The report is integral to the Coalition’s goal of halving food waste by 2030, aligning with Sustainable Development Goal 12.3.

In addition to the baseline report, the Food Waste Coalition is actively involved in projects to address food waste challenges. Initiatives such as the 10x20x30 Initiative, focusing on the world’s largest food retailers and suppliers, aim to reduce food waste through a ‘Target-Measure-Act’ approach. The Coalition also engages in preventing post-harvest losses and runs the #TooGoodToWaste consumer engagement campaign to raise awareness and support for reducing household food waste. Max Kouene, President and CEO of McCain Foods, emphasises the importance of the baseline for measuring progress and setting a clear pathway to tackle the global issue of food loss and waste.