Every year more than 250,000 tonnes of food which is processed, packaged and ready-to-eat is wasted by producers, manufacturers and retailers in the UK supply chain, for reasons ranging from inaccurate demand forecasting and packaging errors, to damage in transit or retailer rejections.

These losses translate into real money which businesses are wasting, and the disposal of produce still fit for consumption; which could be better used in communities experiencing food poverty.

This would be bad enough in a normal year but, against a backdrop of financial hardship faced by many in the last two years, it has never been more obvious that food waste is socially, economically, and environmentally unacceptable.

The Covid-19 pandemic shone a new light on the UK’s food waste issue, as well as making situations worse in some cases. Farmers and manufacturers supplying the hospitality and airline sectors, for instance, have grown and produced food only for orders to be cancelled, and huge surpluses generated. But the underlying problems have been with us for a long time.

Food Waste: A Global Outlook

The world, as a global food community, is more aware than ever of the impact food waste has on our planet and people.

It’s well-documented that around a third of the world’s food resources are lost annually as waste. 

These losses have huge economic impacts for businesses and consumers and can also result in severe food shortages and malnourishment, particularly in developing countries.

In developing countries, more waste tends to arise at earlier stages of the supply chain, for example, through food being spoiled during storage and transportation, while here in the UK most food waste – around 70% of all post-farm-gate losses - arises at the very end of the supply chain, in other words in our homes.

With clean growth at the heart of the UK government’s industrial strategy, the food system needs to make fundamental changes. As an industry, there is a need to rethink how food is produced and how natural capital is used, so we can ensure resilient future food systems that give everyone access to healthier and more sustainable food.

The environmental costs from food waste are significant too. Around 20-30% of total global greenhouse gas emissions are attributable to the food system. It’s a priority area for the net zero agenda, and standards such as BS 8001, PAS 2050, and PAS 2060, will all play a vital role in helping the sector shift to more sustainable operations.

The embedded impacts of the water, energy, fertilizer and other resources which went into producing it in the first place must also be considered.

For these reasons food waste is the subject of the UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12. Its aim is to have halved by 2030 the world’s per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels, and to reduce food losses along production and supply chains, including post-harvest losses.

Other Key Standards Supporting Food Waste Reduction

At BSI, we engage with industries, businesses and governments to create consensus-based solutions defining what ‘good’ looks like.

Through our work with organizations driving change in the food industry, we’ve created standards that address the industry’s shifting landscape and support ways of positively impacting our planet and people. For example, PAS 440 Responsible innovation has been implemented by organizations working in areas such as biotechnology, to address ways to use food waste innovatively to provide new food sources.

Our collaboration with the food industry has also led to fast-track standards, such as PAS 96, the guide to protecting and defending food and drink from deliberate attack, and PAS 224 on the criteria to define 100% plant-based foods.

Want to access and manage the standards you need to reduce food waste in your supply chain - all in one place? With a BSI Knowledge subscription, you will have the flexibility and visibility to manage the essential standards you need to work confidently and optimize your supply chain. Build your own custom collection of standards, or opt for access to our GBM37 Food Technology module and keep up-to-date with any relevant changes to your standards strategy. Request to learn more.

Ensure you are managing food waste within your supply chain by adding these standards to your collection today.