In collaboration with the British Retail Consortium, waste app Too Good To Go has united key representatives from the British food industry - including the likes of One Stop, Co-op, Sainsbury’s, Aldi, Bidfood and numerous others – to call on the Government to introduce mandatory food waste reporting for large companies.
The introduction of this would be a significant step in addressing the 10.7 million tonnes of food wasted annually in the UK. In an open letter, the group of companies notes how the scale of food waste in the UK is ‘alarming,’ and goes on to point out how it is a major driver of climate change and a key hurdle to meeting net zero targets. It continues: “While voluntary efforts by businesses to manage food waste have made progress, they do not go far enough. Mandatory food waste reporting would ensure businesses track and reduce waste, providing transparency and accountability.”
The letter goes on to say how the issue is not just environmental, but also economic. “Food waste costs the UK economy £21.8 billion a year. By making waste reduction a priority, businesses can save money, increase efficiency and unlock innovation in line with the growth mission of the new Government.”
It also notes that countries like Austria have shown how mandatory food waste reporting works. Total food waste has reduced by one million kilos from the first report in Q4 2023, to the Q2 2024 report. In the UK, this policy would not only reduce waste and support economic growth but position Britain as “a leader in sustainable business practice.”
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