Counting the Cost of Food Waste

Food waste in the EU and the UK is clearly a huge issue. 15 million tonnes of food wasted in the UK each year equating to a financial loss to business of at least GBP5 billion per year. Environmentally, the carbon footprint of worldwide food waste is equivalent to twice the global greenhouse gas emission of all road transportation in the USA. The new European Commission, which will be appointed in November this year, should publish a five year strategy for reducing food waste across the EU, and do so within six months of taking office. There is also much that can be done domestically, and in particular by the big retailers, to reduce food waste. Supermarkets need to look again at offers such as 'buy one get one free', which can encourage excess consumption which leads to food waste. Supermarkets must also work much more closely with their suppliers so as not to cancel pre-ordered food which has been grown, is perfectly edible and is then ploughed straight back into the field. The UK Government has a role to play in encouraging cooperation throughout the supply chain.They can also consider whether tax incentives might be used to encourage retailers to ensure unsold food that is still fit for human consumption is actually eaten by people, for example by working with food banks, rather than sent to compost or for energy recovery, or even landfill, as is often the case at present