Majority of food buyers report surge in food waste - FMJ

Abstract

Unprecedented pressure on supply chains has led to food buyers in the UK's biggest organisations reporting a 60 per cent increase in food waste over the last six months, according to a new study commissioned by Sodexo UK & Ireland This surge casts doubt on the food industry's ability to meet the UN's Sustainable Development Goal to reduce food waste by 50 per cent by 2030, and hampers progress to net zero. Sodexo's research shows that to increase their resilience, UK food supply chain heads are increasingly diversifying their supplier base by working with smaller suppliers, with over a third doing so. " Food waste feeding the climate crisis Reducing food waste is a critical part of minimising carbon emissions in the supply chain. A similar proportion do support the introduction of mandatory food waste reporting which is proposed in the Government's recently published food strategy. Sodexo partnered with WRAP last year in support of the first ever Food Waste Action Week to tackle food waste and help save the planet. Sodexo's findings relating to a rise in self-reported food waste are worrying, but not unexpected given the pressures put on supply chains in recent years. WRAP will publish data later this year to show where the UK is in terms of tackling food waste, GHG emissions connected with our food and drink, and water stewardship.