The world’s largest food brands including Mars, Unilever and General Mills have been applauded as a new report tracks global progress on halving food waste.
A group of sustainable food champions from around the world has released the new report, The SDG Target 12.3 on Food Loss and Waste: 2018 Progress Report, which tracks global progress on halving food waste by 2030.
The report finds that the private sector is embracing the food waste challenge, with nearly two-thirds of the world's 50 largest food companies now participating in programs with a food loss and waste reduction target.
According to the report, the private sector has seized the opportunity to tackle food loss and waste. The report also finds increasing evidence that companies and countries are measuring their loss and waste and publishing their results, and acting to put new policies and programs in place.
It was announced that ten of the world’s largest food brands – including Mars, Unilever and General Mills - have not only set targets to halve their food waste by 2030, but also committed to publish the food waste data for their operations within the next 12 months, and take concrete steps to reduce food waste in the supply chain and in customers’ homes.
At the United Nations General Assembly in 2015, countries committed to Sustainable Development Goal Target 12.3, calling for the world to cut food loss and waste in half by 2030.
Dave Lewis, Chair of Champions 12.3 and Group Chief Executive of Tesco said, “In a world where one in nine people go hungry, it is a tragedy that a third of all food is lost or wasted.
“Today’s Champions 12.3 report highlights that great progress has been made but we need more countries and companies to step up.”
In another major advancement for food loss and waste data, Marcus Gover, Chief Executive of WRAP, announced the Food Waste Atlas. The Atlas simplifies finding quantified data that companies and governments can use when measuring their food loss and waste.
Food loss and waste data by food type, geography, or stage in the supply chain can now be found in one place. It also enables companies and governments to post their completed inventories in congruence with the “Food Loss and Waste Accounting and Reporting Standard.”
Also, Africa has launched its first strategy to halve post-harvest losses. Ambassador Josefa Sacko, the African Union Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture, announced “The Continental Post Harvest Loss Management Strategy.”
The Strategy details a suite of innovations in policies, technology, market infrastructure, capacity building, and investment needed to achieve a target for halving post-harvest losses in Africa by 2025. As the first-ever post-harvest loss strategy for the continent, it is a landmark for Africa and the Union’s 55 member states.
“For grains alone, the value of post-harvest losses in Africa are estimated to equal $4 billion per year, an amount that could help feed 48 million people,” said Sacko. “Tackling food loss is critical to Africa. Hence it is time for us to take action, and our new strategy is the foundation for that action.”
The report finds that an estimated 30 percent of the world’s population now lives in a country or regional bloc with a specific food loss and waste reduction target. These include the African Union, European Union, Australia, Japan, and the United States.
Few countries have started measuring their food loss and waste, but the number of national-level initiatives to tackle food loss and waste continues to grow. The United Kingdom, United States, Denmark and the Netherlands are emerging as world leaders setting an example for other nations.
“In the coming year, the world needs to increase its financial investment in reducing the amount of food in Africa and Asia that is lost before hitting the market," Loss and Waste at World Resources Institute Senior Fellow and Director, Food Liz Goodwin says.
"At the other end of the food chain, governments and companies should focus on helping reduce consumer and household-level waste. If we can tackle both ends of the food chain, we stand a great chance of halving food loss and waste by 2030.”
Read the SDG Target 12:3 on Food Loss and Waste: 2018 Progress Report here>>
