27 Jan FWRA Supports New FurtherWithFood.org Online Hub to Help Cut Food Waste
FWRA Supports New FurtherWithFood.org Online Hub to Help Cut Food Waste
Media Contact: Heather Garlich, 202-220-0616
JANUARY 27, 2017 – WASHINGTON, DC – The Food Waste Reduction Alliance (FWRA) today announced its support for the Further With Food online hub for the exchange of information and solutions that can help realize the national goal of cutting food waste in half by 2030.
The site, FurtherWithFood.org, officially launched today, and will be a resource for businesses, government entities, investors, NGOs, academics, and individuals who want to learn more about how to help meet a national goal to reduce food waste by 50 percent. Further With Food can spark widespread adoption of proven solutions, enable coordination and reduce duplication of efforts.
FWRA is a collaborative effort of the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA), the Food Marketing Institute (FMI), and the National Restaurant Association (NRA). Its mission is to reduce the volume of food waste sent to landfill by addressing the root causes of waste, and securing pathways to donate or recycle unavoidable food waste. All three organizations are among the founding members of the Further With Food effort.
“Food waste reduction is a priority for the National Restaurant Association. We are proud to join our industry partners in the Further with Food initiative to share solutions and best practices for reducing waste,” said Laura Abshire, Director of Sustainability for the National Restaurant Association. “We will continue working to educate our members on food waste reduction to help conserve resources, offer assistance to the communities we serve, and improve the bottom line for all restaurants.”
“FurtherWithFood.org is an exciting new resource for bringing a diverse cross-section of people together around the shared goal of reducing food waste,” said Andrew Harig, senior director of sustainability, tax and trade for FMI. “More than 72 percent of wasted food from grocery stores is donated or recycled; food retailers understand how collaboration can lead to supply chain solutions that reduce waste and feed hungry people. Progress on this vital issue will take place much faster if we work together to share ideas and establish new partnerships.”
“Food waste happens all along the supply chain and for many reasons, so it is critical that we all work together to successfully address this challenge,” said Meghan Stasz, Senior Director, Sustainability at GMA. “The Further with Food site will help share best practices, data, and solutions to reducing food waste and getting food to those in need. Collaboration is the founding spirit of the cross-industry Food Waste Reduction Alliance (FWRA) that industry founded in 2011 and we echo that spirit in our support for Further with Food.”
The U.S. spends more than $162 billion growing, processing, and transporting food that is never eaten, costing the average family of four $1,500 every year. In the process, fresh water, energy, land, labor, and money are invested into food that’s never sold and meals that are never served, and leading to greenhouse gas emissions as food rots in landfills. Further With Food will feature content on best practices for preventing, recovering and recycling food loss and waste; educational materials; research results; and information on existing government, business and community initiatives.
Other participants in the Further With Food collaboration include the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Feeding America, the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy, the National Consumers League, Natural Resources Defense Council, the World Resources Institute, and the World Wildlife Fund. Major funding was provided by the Rockefeller Foundation, with technical assistance from Keystone Policy Center.
+++
About the Food Marketing Institute
Food Marketing Institute proudly advocates on behalf of the food retail industry. FMI’s U.S. members operate nearly 40,000 retail food stores and 25,000 pharmacies, representing a combined annual sales volume of almost $770 billion. Through programs in public affairs, food safety, research, education and industry relations, FMI offers resources and provides valuable benefits to more than 1,225 food retail and wholesale member companies in the United States and around the world. FMI membership covers the spectrum of diverse venues where food is sold, including single owner grocery stores, large multi-store supermarket chains and mixed retail stores. For more information, visit www.fmi.org and for information regarding the FMI foundation,.
About the Grocery Manufacturers Association
The Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) is the trade organization representing the world’s leading food, beverage and consumer products companies and associated partners. The U.S. food, beverage and consumer packaged goods industry has facilities in 30,000 communities, generates $1 trillion in sales annually, contributes $415 billion in added value to the economy every year and is the single largest U.S. manufacturing industry with 1.7 million manufacturing workers. Founded in 1908, GMA has a primary focus on product safety, science-based public policies and industry initiatives that seek to empower people with the tools and information they need to make informed choices and lead healthier lives.
About the National Restaurant Association
Founded in 1919, the National Restaurant Association is the leading business association for the restaurant industry, which comprises 1 million restaurant and foodservice outlets and a workforce of 14 million employees. We represent the industry in Washington, D.C., and advocate on its behalf. We operate the industry’s largest trade show (NRA Show May 21-24, 2016, in Chicago); leading food safety training and certification program (ServSafe); unique career-building high school program (the NRAEF’s ProStart); as well as the Kids LiveWell program promoting healthful kids’ menu options. For more information, visit Restaurant.org and find us on Twitter @WeRRestaurants, Facebook and YouTube.