Food Waste

Technical expertise to support organisations in optimising food production through managing surpluses and reducing waste.

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s), launched by the United Nations in 2016, have galvanised the drive toward more sustainable production and consumption of food. The private sector has been called upon to play a key role in meeting these goals. Aspects of food production and consumption are impacted by the goals and targets contained within most of the seventeen goals.

Key elements of managing food waste are captured under SDG Goal 12. Goal 12 includes a target to halve per capita food waste at the retail and consumer levels and reduce food losses along production and supply chains, including post-harvest losses by 2030.

ADAS has supported the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) as advisors to their sector-specific working groups. We also work with WRAP’s Courtauld Signatory companies across their direct operations and supply chains to measure and identify where action is needed to reduce waste of resources within their food supply network.

We provide the following food waste management services:

Conducting baseline measurements

A baseline is needed to show progress. We can assist in measuring food surplus and waste across your business using methods such as the World Resources Institute’s Food Loss and Waste Standard and WRAP Food Waste Reduction Roadmap guidelines.

Identifying opportunities to progress towards your food waste target

Once you have set a target (for example, reduce waste by 50% by 2030), we can help identify waste hotspots. This will allow us to identify the processes needed to minimise that waste and extract the greatest value from by-products.

Increasing redistribution to keep food in the human food chain

When we have identified a surplus, we will highlight opportunities to find alternative markets for surplus. We can assist in setting up relationships with redistribution partners.

Engaging employees and your supply chain

We can provide bespoke training and workshops around waste issues to raise awareness and motivate action within your own business and across your supply chain.

Monitoring and communicating your progress

Regular monitoring will be required to measure progress against your target. We can develop monitoring programmes to record this, as well as support in preparing both internal and external communications to update stakeholders on progress.