FWRA’s work is focused on the sources that we can most directly impact – our own U.S. operations (manufacturing, retail and restaurant/foodservice). FWRA’s objectives are to reduce our environmental footprint while helping those suffering from hunger. To meet these objectives, we are focused on three strategic goals:
An estimated 25-40% of food grown, processed and transported in the U.S. will never be consumed.
Some generated food waste is safe to eat, and can be donated to food banks and anti-hunger organizations, providing nutrition to those in need.
For food waste, a landfill is the end of the line; but when composted, it can be recycled into soil or energy.
Measuring food waste is the single most impactful best practice to drive waste reduction. As the saying goes — “you can’t manage what you don’t measure.”
Prior to FWRA’s efforts, most food waste studies were based on estimates and extrapolation. FWRA set out to collect more accurate measures based on data directly from participating companies. The result is a series of studies providing a clearer picture of food donation and food waste by each sector — manufacturing, retail and restaurant/foodservice. These surveys and reports show not only where food donation and food waste is happening in these sectors, but also begins to help us understand why.
FWRA released a survey highlighting the great strides being made by manufacturers and retail companies in food donation, food waste reduction and diversion from landfills. The following year, the Emerging Solutions & Best Practices subcommittee of the Food Waste Reduction Alliance used those study results to begin identifying the best practices within the manufacturing, retail and restaurant industry. The compilation resulted in the very first FWRA Best Practices and Emerging Solutions Toolkit outlining strategies from food manufacturers, retailers and foodservice operators and sharing strategic approaches to assist likeminded organizations to keep food out of landfills and reduce food waste at the source. Food waste reduction efforts are constantly evolving, and, in November 2015, FWRA released a second volume, providing additional insight; revisiting model practices and emerging solutions compiled from more than 40 FWRA member companies and expert partners from the hunger relief and waste management sectors; and featuring new real-life examples and case studies.
Source: EPA Food Recovery Hierarchy
Food waste is a problem all across the U.S. and the Food Waste Reduction Alliance is working to meet this challenge in many ways. One approach focuses on the public policies in various parts of the country that create incentives for food donation to those in need or that result in robust infrastructure for landfill alternatives, such as composting facilities or anaerobic digestion. While there is no “one size fits all” solution for food waste, some parts of the U.S. have high donation rates and/or many economically viable options for diverting food waste from landfills.
FWRA works to identify policies that create those high rates of food donation and infrastructure options.
Engagement with a broad range of stakeholders is critical to identifying and implementing challenges and solutions to these complicated issues. The Food Waste Reduction Alliance engages with stakeholders working on all aspects of food waste reduction and food donation in the U.S. In 2019, FWRA announced a formal agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to reduce food loss and waste through industry and agency-specific actions.
FWRA also liaises with organizations such as the U.S. Composting Council, the World Wildlife Fund, and ReFED as are all working on specific aspects of food waste. Learning from and sharing findings with these thought-leaders is an important element of this initiative.
Similarly, FWRA and its participating companies also works to raise the profile of this issue nationwide, educating diverse audiences about the issue and the work of FWRA through speaking engagements, tools and best practices guides. There is no better opportunity to help feed the hungry and reduce our environmental footprint than tackling the challenge of food waste and communication is a critical component of reaching our goals.