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Force companies to report their food waste, say leading UK retailers

Tackling Food Waste: A Sustainable Solution for a Greener Future

Food waste has become a pressing issue that demands immediate attention. With a staggering one-third of the world's food production ending up in the bin, the environmental and economic consequences are staggering. However, a group of prominent businesses have come together to propose a solution – mandatory reporting of food waste by companies. This groundbreaking initiative aims to shed light on the scale of the problem and spur more efficient practices, ultimately reducing the vast amounts of edible food squandered in the UK.

Transforming the Food Industry: A Call for Transparency and Accountability

Confronting the Realities of Food Waste

The food industry is facing a significant challenge – the vast amounts of edible food that are being wasted. According to the article, about a third of the food produced globally every year is binned, much of it before it reaches the consumer. This astronomical figure translates to a staggering cost of almost £22bn annually to the UK economy. The environmental impact is equally alarming, with food waste globally contributing up to a 10th of greenhouse gases.

A Collective Call for Change

In response to this pressing issue, more than 30 food businesses, including supermarkets and food producers, have come together to write a letter to the environment secretary, Steve Reed. Their message is clear: food companies should be required to report on the amount of food they throw away. This move, they argue, will force companies to confront the reality of their waste and spur them to take action.

Driving Efficiency and Sustainability

The signatories of the letter believe that mandatory reporting will be a vital first step towards a more sustainable food industry. By shining a light on the issue, companies will be compelled to implement more efficient processes and increase their efforts to reuse surplus food. This transparency will also allow consumers, the government, and other businesses to assess the performance of suppliers and hold them accountable.

Aligning with Government Initiatives

The call for mandatory reporting aligns with the government's own goals. Environment Secretary Steve Reed has spoken repeatedly about his desire to see a "circular economy," where waste of all kinds is minimized. The government has also set a target of halving food waste by 2030, but has yet to outline the specific measures to achieve this ambitious goal. The letter's signatories are hopeful that their proposal will be seriously considered and implemented as a crucial step towards meeting this target.

Collaborative Efforts Across the Industry

The letter to the environment secretary has been organized by Jamie Crummie, the co-founder of Too Good to Go, an online service that connects consumers with last-minute surplus food from restaurants and retailers. Crummie has worked closely with the British Retail Consortium (BRC) to gather support from a diverse range of food businesses, including some of the UK's biggest supermarkets and food producers.

Embracing New Technologies and Innovative Solutions

While the call for mandatory reporting is a significant step, some food producers are already taking action to reduce waste through innovative means. The article highlights the use of AI technology to make supply chains more efficient and cut waste, as well as more traditional methods such as donating still-edible surpluses to food banks.

Driving Change Through Collaboration and Advocacy

The letter's signatories are not only working with the government but also engaging with members of parliament to raise awareness of the food waste issue. Wera Hobhouse, the Liberal Democrat MP for Bath and vice-chair of the all-party parliamentary group on the environment, has expressed her concern about the "deeply concerning" number of meals that are simply thrown away in the UK each week. She emphasizes the need to move beyond the "throwaway culture" and work with businesses to put in place the right incentives to cut back on waste and overconsumption.

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