Actions From Consumer Goods Companies to Drive Down Food Waste Showcased in New Case Study Booklet From The Consumer Goods Forum

PARIS, January 28, 2021 /3BL Media/ - The Consumer Goods Forum (CGF) has today published the newest edition of its Food Waste Case Study Booklet, a collection of stories from CGF members, including those of its Food Waste Coalition of Action, highlighting their actions to reduce food loss and create more sustainable supply chains. The booklet brings together case studies from CGF members based around the world, illustrating the CGF’s global membership and engagement on the issue.

The 17 contributing members of the new booklet are: Ahold Delhaize, A.S. Watson, Barilla, Bel Groupe, General Mills, ICA Gruppen, Jerónimo Martins, The Kellogg Company, METRO AG, Migros, Nestlé, Sainsbury’s, SOK, Tesco, Unilever, Walmart, and Woolworths.

With details of each members’ unique programmes and booklet features several types of engagement on the issue, including:

• Working first-hand with fresh grocery suppliers to identify and remedy cases of loss and help prevent future losses;
• Discounting foods nearing expiration in grocery stores and working to sell “ugly” products;
• Partnering with local food bank and donation organisations to distribute food to communities in need;
• Engaging in food recycling programmes;
• Raising consumer awareness about the realities of the food waste challenges, as well as opportunities for action and impact; and
• Facilitating cross-sector collaboration and thought leadership on the issue.

Food waste has been one of the CGF’s central areas of action since 2015, with the development of the CGF Board’s Food Waste Resolution. The Food Waste Case Study Booklet was originally published in 2016. In 2020, the CGF launched its Food Waste Coalition of Action, an initiative of 20 CGF members committed to driving accelerated, collective action towards Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12. The Coalition is co-sponsored by McCain and Tesco, and co-chaired by Ahold Delhaize and The Kellogg Company.

The new booklet is also published ahead of the first-ever United Nations Food Systems Summit, which will bring together global actors from across different sectors in autumn 2021 to launch new transformative actions that will drive urgent change towards food security and sustainable food systems. Wai-Chan Chan, Managing Director of the CGF, is one of the Summit’s Champions, overseeing the CGF’s engagement in the Summit’s five action tracks.

Wai-Chan Chan, Managing Director of the CGF, said, "Action from the consumer goods industry is an essential element of global efforts to reduce food waste, increase food security, and sustain our food systems. It's also just good business, and our members know that. This booklet highlights the different ways our members have successfully approached this issue, and also demonstrates the powerful impact our industry can have in aligning commitments and actions on this global challenge.”

Wai-Chan is also a Champion of the World Resources Institute (WRI) Champions 12.3 network.

Ignacio Gavilan, Director of Sustainability, CGF, said, “One-third of food produced worldwide is never eaten, and everyone has a role to play in driving down that number. This booklet illustrates how CGF members’ actions to reduce waste throughout their supply chains, from the farm-level to grocery stores, and even with consumers at home, have a real impact. We hope that in sharing insights from these members’ actions, all actors can recognise an opportunity to make a difference and join us in our efforts to reduce food loss and encourage sustainability.”

Frans Muller, CEO, Ahold Delhaize, said, “Food waste reduction is a key component of our Leading Together strategy as we work toward a healthy and sustainable future. As a sustainable retailer, reducing food waste in our stores and distribution chain is the right thing for our business, for the climate, and for improving food security. We are pleased to show how we are working toward our target of halving food waste by 2030 in this new booklet from The Consumer Goods Forum, where collaboration with other CGF members on this issue has shown just how great of an impact we can make working together.”

Amy Senter, Chief Sustainability Officer, Kellogg Company, said, "The number of people facing hunger has increased dramatically as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Around the world, Kellogg continues to work with its supplies and farmers to responsibly source our ingredients, as well as collaborate with customers and food bank partners to help ensure no food is wasted. We are pleased to share our actions to reduce food loss and waste across our value chain in this new booklet. As a proud member of CGF and Co-Chair of the Food Waste Coalition of Action, we remain steadfast in our commitment to help tackle this critical issue."

— ENDS —

About The Consumer Goods Forum (CGF) Food Waste Coalition of Action

The Consumer Goods Forum (CGF)’s CEO-led Coalition of Action on Food Waste brings together 20 of the world’s largest consumer goods retailers and manufacturers with the goal of halving per capita global food loss at the retailer and consumer levels. With its explicit CEO engagement, action-oriented commitments and passion for accelerating sustainable change on a global level, the Coalition is a leader in the effort to reduce food loss in supply chains worldwide by driving action on key issues such as public reporting, full supply chain engagement, post-harvest losses and regional challenges. Together, the Coalition and its members play a powerful role in the effort to reduce waste, reducing stress on the environment, benefitting the global economy and ensuring more food makes it to stores and onto consumers’ tables in the process. For more information about the Coalition, visit www.tcgffoodwaste.com.

About The Consumer Goods Forum

The Consumer Goods Forum (“CGF”) is a global, parity-based industry network that is driven by its members to encourage the global adoption of practices and standards that serves the consumer goods industry worldwide. It brings together the CEOs and senior management of some 400 retailers, manufacturers, service providers, and other stakeholders across 70 countries, and it reflects the diversity of the industry in geography, size, product category and format. Its member companies have combined sales of EUR 3.5 trillion and directly employ nearly 10 million people, with a further 90 million related jobs estimated along the value chain. It is governed by its Board of Directors, which comprises 58 manufacturer and retailer CEOs. For more information, please visit: www.theconsumergoodsforum.com.

Contact

Ignacio Gavilan

Director, Sustainability

environmental@theconsumergoodsforum.com

Madelaine VanDerHeyden

Communication Officer

m.vanderheyden@theconsumergoodsforum.com