BSI and ISO published BS ISO 20001 on 30 September, the first internationally recognised management system standard for preventing and minimising food loss and waste.

Open to any business in the food chain, from farms to foodservice, it gives operations teams a structured framework for tackling waste, though questions over certification and measurement remain.

One framework, farm to foodservice

Built with input from experts in more than 30 countries, including WRAP, BS ISO 20001 asks organisations to identify waste hotspots, plan and document controls, and demonstrate continuous improvement rather than a one-off cut.

Because the standard can be applied by any business in the food chain, it offers a common structure for operators at very different points along it. For manufacturers, that means waste reduction can be managed as an ongoing system, not a one-time project.

Built to slot in

The standard’s main value is practical. It sits alongside BS ISO 14001:2026 and BS ISO 22000:2018, so manufacturers can fold waste management into systems they already run instead of building a parallel one.

BSI also positions the standard as a common language for reporting progress to regulators, customers and investors. For businesses fielding waste-related questions from several directions at once, a shared framework could reduce duplicated effort.

Gaps still to fill

Two companion standards are still in development: ISO 20020, covering audit and certification bodies, and ISO 20008, covering measurement and reporting methods. Until those land, certification and quantification will remain open questions.

That leaves a practical gap. Operators can adopt the management system approach now, but the routes to independent certification and the agreed methods for measuring and reporting waste are not yet in place.

BS ISO 20001 is a chance to build waste controls into existing management systems rather than starting from scratch. Those already working with BS ISO 14001:2026 and BS ISO 22000:2018 are best placed to move early.

The standard’s value will depend on how the companion standards develop. It is also worth watching whether customers begin asking for BS ISO 20001 alignment in supplier audits.