End Food Waste Australia has voiced its endorsement of the recommendations advocating accelerated nationwide action against food wastage, as outlined in the report by the Senate Select Committee on Supermarket Prices.
These recommendations include reforms in date labelling, product specifications, and fostering greater transparency in food waste reporting, the organisation said in a media release.
End Food Waste Australia is actively engaged in research and industry initiatives aimed at addressing these recommendations. However, it emphasised the necessity for increased investment and concerted efforts from both industry and government.
Dr Steven Lapidge, chief executive officer, highlighted the Senate inquiry’s recognition of how business practices impact food waste across the supply chain, stressing the staggering economic and environmental toll of food wastage in Australia, amounting to $36.6 billion annually.
“Food waste action provides a significant opportunity to address the rising costs of living, remove a significant amount of emissions from the food system, help feed millions of food insecure Australians and make the wider food industry and supply chain fairer, more profitable, resilient and sustainable,” Dr Lapidge stated.
End Food Waste Australia said it is already undertaking various initiatives, including a research project focused on National Date Labelling and Food Storage Advice, in collaboration with the End Food Waste Cooperative Research Centre.
Dr Lapidge underscored the need for clearer and more consistent date labelling practices to empower consumers in minimizing food wastage.
Additionally, the organisation has developed a comprehensive Horticulture Sector Food Waste Action Plan to address fresh produce wastage, aligning with the Senate inquiry’s call for a review of product specifications.
The Australian Food Pact, a voluntary agreement championed by End Food Waste Australia, is instrumental in fostering collaboration among food businesses to reduce wastage throughout the supply chain.
Dr Lapidge underscored the importance of government and industry support in driving systemic change to combat Australia’s significant food wastage, stressing the need for sustained investment and collaboration to achieve tangible results.
“End Food Waste Australia welcomes further support, investment and collaboration from industry and governments to successfully implement food system reforms around date labelling, product specifications and food waste reporting to ultimately reduce food waste, fight food insecurity, improve industry productivity and mitigate cost of living pressures for all Australians,” Dr Lapidge concluded.
