SUMMARY
Food waste is a major public policy issue. Consumers
in industrialised countries waste almost as much food as the entire
net food production of sub-Saharan Africa. The global carbon footprint
of wasted food has been estimated as more than twice the total
greenhouse gas emissions of all road transportation in the United
States (US).
Despite the compelling need for immediate action,
the development of a policy framework is bedevilled by the complexity
of defining and monitoring food waste. This is a particular challenge
at the earlier parts of the supply chain—on farms—and
goes some way to explaining the weak progress in this area at
both the European Union (EU) and Member State levels compared
with other areas of waste policy. The complexity of defining and
monitoring food waste must not continue to prevent action.
We support the development of EU-wide aspirational
targets for each level of the supply chain, assisted by a strategic
approach, in order to reduce food waste and to encourage action
across Europe. The ultimate objective of such an approach should
be to tackle food waste caused by a lack of cooperation between
component parts of the supply chain. Retailers, we argue, lie
at the heart of this approach. They influence the behaviour of
producers, manufacturers and consumers but, thus far, have failed
to take their responsibilities sufficiently seriously.
The EU has an important role to play in encouraging
cooperation throughout the supply chain. It must also look at
its own regulatory framework and consider where that may impede
food waste prevention throughout the component parts of the supply
chain. The concept of the 'waste hierarchy' is intrinsic to the
supply chain approach, and is linked to EU regulation. The hierarchy
dictates the order in which waste should be managed, from prevention
through to disposal. We recommend a food use hierarchy, which
would place greater emphasis on the redistribution of surplus
food to humans, through food banks and charities. If food is not
suitable for human consumption, it should then be transferred
to animals if safe to do so.
The waste of environmental and economic resources
represented by food waste is a serious cost to society that needs
to be urgently addressed. At a strategic level, this is a task
for the European Commission, working with the Member States, but
it is also one that can be tackled at a local and, even, individual
level. There is much to do, but we were nevertheless encouraged
by examples given during the inquiry of actions that have already
been taken. There is clearly plenty of emerging willpower to address
the issue. What is now required is coordination of those efforts
within a clear and urgent framework for action.
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