More than 30 leading UK retailers and food businesses are calling for a legal requirement that would force companies to publicly report their food waste, in a move aimed at addressing the vast quantities of edible food lost each year. In a letter to Environment Secretary Steve Reed, major names including Tesco, Waitrose, Aldi, and food producers such as Nestlé and Innocent Drinks urged the government to introduce mandatory reporting as a critical step in reducing the UK’s food waste.
The signatories argue that this transparency would compel businesses to face the reality of their waste and take action to improve their practices, from more efficient supply chains to better redistribution of surplus food. The initiative is also being supported by the British Retail Consortium (BRC), which represents the UK’s retail industry.
A Costly Waste Crisis
Globally, about a third of all food produced is discarded, contributing significantly to the climate crisis. In the UK, food waste costs the economy an estimated £22 billion each year, with 10.7 million tonnes of food being thrown away annually. The environmental impact is substantial: food waste is responsible for up to 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions, making it a significant contributor to climate change.
Speaking on behalf of the campaign, Jamie Crummie, co-founder of the food-saving app Too Good to Go, emphasized the importance of transparency. “Food waste is one of the largest contributors to climate change. By implementing mandatory food waste reporting, we can ensure accountability and encourage companies to make meaningful changes,” Crummie said.
The letter’s authors hope that requiring companies to report their waste figures will spur them to adopt more sustainable practices. Some businesses are already leveraging AI to streamline supply chains and minimize waste, while others are donating surplus food to food banks. However, the scale of the problem demands more widespread action, and campaigners believe mandatory reporting would be a powerful incentive for change.
Government Promises on Waste Reduction
Environment Secretary Steve Reed has been vocal about the need to reduce waste across all sectors and has expressed a commitment to creating a “circular economy” where waste is minimized and resources are reused. However, while the government has set a target of halving food waste by 2030, new measures to achieve this goal have not yet been outlined.
A spokesperson from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) acknowledged the urgency of the issue. “The amount of food we waste is a stain on our country. We are working with businesses to drive down food waste and ensure that food is put on the plates of those who need it most,” they said, adding that initiatives are underway to redistribute surplus food to charities and help households reduce their waste.
Political Support for the Initiative
The proposal has gained support from MPs, including Wera Hobhouse, the Liberal Democrat MP for Bath and vice-chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on the Environment. Hobhouse highlighted the stark reality of the UK’s waste culture, calling for systemic changes to reduce the number of meals that are needlessly discarded each week.
“The throwaway culture we’ve become too accustomed to must end. If we want to cut food waste, we need to start by holding businesses accountable and incentivizing them to do better,” Hobhouse said.
While the proposed measures would not apply to farmers, they would impact companies throughout the food chain that operate beyond the farm gate, setting a new standard for transparency and responsibility in the industry.
A Step Towards a Greener Future
As the UK strives to meet its environmental targets, mandatory food waste reporting could be a key tool in reducing waste and its associated emissions. Retailers and producers alike are optimistic that such measures would not only benefit the environment but also help businesses operate more efficiently.
With mounting pressure from both industry leaders and politicians, the push for mandatory food waste reporting is gaining momentum. If successful, it could pave the way for a more sustainable and responsible food system in the UK, helping the country meet its climate goals and tackle food waste head-on.
