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The government must implement mandatory food waste reporting, following advice from the food industry and environmental scientists – and in line with long-promised action from Defra.

A potential scheme for large and medium-sized businesses to report on their food surplus and food waste was first announced six years ago.32 But since then, there has been little progress.

In 2022, there was an overwhelmingly positive response to Defra’s consultation on the plans. Along with emphatic backing – with 99% of respondents supporting the scheme – there was strong support across the food industry, with four in five retailers, nearly three quarters of hospitality services and two thirds of farmers in favour.33

But conflicting announcements from Ministers have led to uncertainty about its future, and to date there has been no commitment to introduce mandatory reporting. 

While an existing voluntary scheme is delivering important benefits, data from 2021 showed just 261 food companies had joined, with 60% of major food businesses yet to take part.34

We know that reporting works. WRAP’s latest progress update revealed that retailers who were part of the scheme had reduced their food waste by 8% between 2018 and 2022, preventing 60,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions.35

The UK has made a commitment under UN SDG 12.3 to halve its food waste by 2030. Yet progress is slowing, and the UK’s measurement of this progress does not currently include pre-farm gate surplus food, contrary to its pledge as a member of the Champions 12.3 coalition.36 At COP28, the UK committed to including food systems in its climate action plans, and this measure would be a step towards meeting that commitment. 

Voluntary reporting measures alone are not producing results quickly enough. A mandatory scheme, along with the wider measures outlined in this manifesto, would place the UK on a clearer path to meeting its environmental goals.

What would it cost?

Defra has calculated this proposal to be cost-neutral, with the £318,000 annual cost of running the scheme fully covered by registration fees.

What’s more, its impact assessment shows that a mere 0.25% reduction in food waste would balance out the costs of the scheme for companies, with each £1 invested by businesses generating a £14 return, as reported by Defra.37,38

References

32

Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (2018) Our Waste, Our Resources: A strategy for England. Available at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/ media/5c18f11740f0b60bbee0d827/resources-waste- strategy-dec-2018.pdf.

33

Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (2023) Summary of responses and government response: Improved food waste reporting by large food businesses in England. Available at: https://assets.publishing.service. gov.uk/media/64c2413ea4ba200010f1ef0b/Summary_ of_responses_and_government_response_food_waste_ reporting_July_2023.pdf.

34

WRAP (2021) The Food Waste Reduction Roadmap Progress Report 2021. Available
at: https://wrap.org.uk/resources/report/ food-waste-reduction-roadmap-progress-report-2021.

35

WRAP (2022) The Food Waste Reduction Roadmap: Progress Report 2022. Available
at: https://wrap.org.uk/resources/report/ food-waste-reduction-roadmap-progress-report-2022.

36

World Resources Institute (2024). Champions 12.3 Inspiring ambition and mobilizing action to reduce food loss and waste globally. Available at: https://www.wri.org/ initiatives/champions-123

37

Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (2022) Impact Assessment: Food waste measurement and reporting for food businesses in England. Available at: https://consult.defra.gov.uk/environmental-quality/ improved-reporting-of-food-waste/.

38

Champions 12.3 (2017) The Business Case for Reducing Food Loss and Waste. Available at: https://champions123. org/publication/business-case-reducing-food-loss-and-waste.

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