Three-quarters (76 per cent) of unsold food is now being repurposed, donated, used for animal feed, or transformed into new products, according to new data.
The newly released 2024 Australian Food Pact Impact Report, released by End Food Waste Australia (EFWA), reported waste to landfill more than halved in the same time, reflecting a substantial change in how businesses manage unsold food.
The report is a comprehensive snapshot of food waste dynamics across leading food producers, manufacturers, and retailers.
According to the report, Australia’s food waste problem costs the economy $36.6 billion every year (FIAL,2021), with far-reaching environmental and social consequences. 7.6 million tonnes of food is wasted annually – enough to fill the Melbourne Cricket Ground ten times.
Of the 7.6 million tonnes of food Australia wastes each year, about 70 per cent is edible.
To combat this issue, End Food Waste Australia (EFWA) launched the Australian Food Pact in 2021, a collaborative initiative designed to transform Australia’s food system and halve food waste by 2030.
Pact signatories, including food producers, manufacturers and retailers have committed to the Pact and to tracking their waste and taking action.
The latest report shows what has been achieved over the past three years, and highlights what needs to change in the years ahead.
The report demonstrates significant progress in the past three years, including an estimated 505,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions avoided. This would be the same as taking 210,000 cars off the road for a year.
Food not sold dropped by two per cent (approximately 9000 tonnes), even as total food handled increased by 19 per cent.
Sam Oakden, Acting Director Industry Action for EFWA said these outcomes underscore the difference the industry can make when collaborating.
“Pact signatories are demonstrating real leadership by reducing surplus and repurposing unsold food,” said Oakden.
“But there is more work ahead if Australia is to reach its target of halving food waste by 2030.”
Figures showed a 13 per cent decrease in total food waste among Pact Signatories from 2022 to 2024, equating to about 16,000 tonnes.
Expired food remains a significant problem in Australia’s food supply chain, with Signatories reporting that 44 per cent of food waste in 2024 could be attributed to products being past their expiry date.
This increased from 35 per cent in 2022 and has consistently been the leading cause of food waste over the past three years.
Oakden said to fully capitalise on the Pact, more businesses are needed to join the fight.
“By encouraging more companies to sign up to the Pact, and uniting government at all levels, industry, and the community sector, we can build a stronger, more sustainable food system. This will benefit everyone – people, the planet, and businesses alike,” he said.
For more information, visit: www.endfoodwaste.com.au
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