Food waste has been a topic that has received much coverage in the media in the past months, especially due to the increased need for food in some communities due to the pandemic. That is why this week’s PMA virtual town hall focused on the industry’s efforts in fighting food waste and loss.
Holistic, all-in approach proves effective
According to this week’s panelists, the biggest motivation for working to reduce food waste is personal values and passion. While governmental legislation can make the process easier, the companies who are driven by their own passion for food waste reduction are always going to be ahead of the curve. The biggest reason for governments to put legislation in place to aid the fight against food waste and loss is to level the playing field – to ensure that those companies who aren’t working to reduce their waste are forced to do so. But overall, legislation is not the driver for change, that change comes from within, says one panelist.
Tackling food waste is an enormous task. One of the biggest investments required is that of time. The waste needs to be addressed holistically rather than independently from one another. Making independent changes throughout a company might have an adverse effect. For example, a packaging improvement might bring a negative outcome for the product’s shelf-life. That is why it is important to follow specific programs, to be all-in, rather than make small changes here and there. There will be monetary investments as well, such as trainings for the staff. The most important aspect to consider is that all levels of the team need to be fully involved for the process to be effective. In order to achieve zero-waste certification, to really address the issues and inefficacies, and to bring about the most cost savings, the work needs to be done at all levels.
Food waste during the pandemic
In the pandemic, food waste was a topic that was highlighted because the temporary loss of the foodservice industry made it so that a lot of products weren’t distributed, and sometimes weren’t even harvested. In addition to this, the change in consumption and purchasing patterns from the consumers also made it difficult for the industry to plan how much volumes to supply and when to do so. The initial raise in sales dropped back down, and extra product that was supplied to cover shortages became redundant. This has shown the importance of strong forecasting and ordering tools to help prevent food waste. Navigating the reopening of the foodservice industry throughout the US, will be the next challenge.
Steps to take
At a retail level, there are many steps that can be taken to help reduce food waste. Using a strong forecasting and ordering tools to help improve inventory flow, for example. The store fixtures should be set up in a way that helps to increase turnover and customer appeal. Store associates should to be provided with resources and education on how to care for the foods and manage the shelf-life. Finally, standardized date labeling is very important. Dates are often required for quality reasons only, but packages that have a ‘best by’ date help consumers know when to eat it and help to eliminate food loss and waste in the home – which is one of the biggest places where food loss occurs.
Food that can’t be distributed through its normal channels should be redirected to a different outlet. Keeping the food destined for human consumption is often the main goal – this can be done by bringing it to foodbanks, for example. If that doesn’t work, the next step is to designate it for animal consumption by turning it into feed. Then, if that doesn’t work, it’ll be turned into energy. While it is often seen as a last resort to use the food as a soil regenerator, one of the panelists pointed out that this is something that should be valued and be seen as an opportunity rather than as a last resort; it helps us to rebuild soil without chemicals and brings about a regenerative system that uses 100% of the food in the systems.
Next week’s virtual town hall will focus on the global impact of COVID-19. Panelists will look at how key regions have been affected and look to the future of essential global markets, the impact of ongoing consumer concerns, and the need to anticipate supply and demand challenges. Click here to sign up for next week's virtual town hall.
