Businesses could save £300m a year by tackling food waste
WRAP estimates that 1.9 million tonnes of food is wasted in the UK grocery supply chain every year. However, 0.7 million tonnes of material, which could have become waste, is either being redistributed to people (47,000 tonnes; the equivalent of 90 million meals a year) or diverted to animal feed.
Looking ahead, action to increase prevention of food waste could save businesses £300 million a year, according to the company.
The report, Quantification of food surplus, waste and related materials in the grocery supply chain, highlights the overall avoidable food waste figures (1.1Mt) for the sector and breaks it down into manufacturing sub-sectors, such as meat and dairy.
It also shows that the food manufacturing and retail sectors in the UK are highly efficient, with less than 5% food surplus and waste, and that food waste levels are lower than previously reported.
While good progress has already been made in reducing food waste, the report identifies that a further 450kt of food waste a year could be prevented by 2025, a reduction of 23%.
The research also identifies that of the current food surplus and waste, around 270kt may be suitable for redistribution. Even after efforts to prevent food waste arising in the supply chain (potentially saving businesses £300 million a year), there will still be the opportunity to increase redistribution four-fold, to the equivalent of at least 360 million meals.
The amount of food surplus diverted to animal feed could also increase by up to 20%.
