Policy paper

G7 Presidency summary of the Alliance for Resource Efficiency Technical Working Group

Published 21 May 2021

Key components that support action to reduce food waste at the household level

Reducing household food waste is essential to tackle negative environmental impacts. Based on data submitted across the G7, around 45 Mt/year of food waste is from households alone, although the true figure could be significantly greater, estimated to be worth over £200 billion.

The UK Presidency organised a technical working group of the G7 Alliance for Resource Efficiency on effective strategies to reduce household food waste on 25 March 2021, which was held virtually. Participants included G7 members and external partners WRAP (the Waste and Resources Action Plan) and the World Resources Institute. The working group provided helpful insights on effective approaches to reducing household food waste and based on these discussions, the UK Presidency identified the key components required to develop and deliver a successful strategy to reduce household food waste which are outlined in the sections below.

Key components

Research, evaluation and monitoring

• Develop an evidence base which can inform strategies and delivery plans by assessing the nature and scale of the issue. For example, data on the drivers for food being wasted, motivations for changes in behaviours and evidence of both quantities of and the types of food being wasted.
• Monitor and report regularly to track progress in reducing household food waste. This includes regular measurement of household food waste, (ideally every 2-3 years) as well as tracking and reporting consumer awareness, behaviours and attitudes (ideally every year).

Effective messaging

• Implement a range of messaging to reach and influence consumers that are culturally sensitive and resonate with national audiences. For example, relating food waste prevention to financial savings, food poverty and reducing environmental impacts can be received well by different audiences.
• Create a process for developing, testing and rolling out interventions proven to help reduce household food waste. For example, pilot testing targeted behaviour change interventions and technical innovation and then evaluating their impact.

Engagement at scale

• Implement an overarching national strategy, to ensure appropriate prioritisation, resourcing and co-ordination. Depending on the context, both national and regional strategies could be combined to deliver successful consumer campaigns.
• Produce a consumer facing campaign that raises awareness of the need to act and the benefits of doing so (for the individual and wider), that will inform and motivate behaviour change.
• Facilitate a network of partners (such as retailers, brands, hospitality and food service operators, local governments, community groups, influencers) that can amplify messages and aid in implementing behaviour change interventions.
• Integrate consumer messaging across areas that have the potential to influence levels of food waste in order to increase the reach of relevant messages. For example, healthy eating and portion sizing.
• Produce policies and guidance as well as collaborating with food businesses to ensure products and labelling help consumers buy what they need and use what they buy to avoid wastage. For example, interventions include appropriate pack sizes and clear labelling for dates and storage instructions.

Next steps

A significant amount of work is underway to reduce household food waste, with all G7 members already implementing at scale at least two of the key components listed above. However, gaps remain in our understanding and barriers to progress exist which pose challenges for policymakers in accelerating progress including internal competing resource priorities. We must also ensure our work supports addressing the food security challenges exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic. While next steps were not discussed at the working group, the UK Presidency of the G7 identified the following potential future work for the G7 Alliance on Resource Efficiency:

• Reducing uncertainty on the volume of food waste and the impact of interventions across the G7. We recognise that increased knowledge sharing can reduce the resource requirements for research.
• Increasing understanding of changes over time, in both levels of food waste, environmental, economic, and social impacts of food waste, and the factors that influence this, such as consumer behaviours. Challenges include the resource required to gather appropriate data and therefore we support using measuring and evaluation methodologies such as the Food Loss and Waste Accounting and Reporting Standard to overcome some of these technical challenges.
• Making food waste socially unacceptable, through raising awareness and understanding on the negative implications of wasting food. We acknowledge more needs to be done on promoting current behaviour change campaigns and understanding their impact. This can be improved through sharing experience of national monitoring and testing of the impact of specific interventions.
• Expanding partnerships with global supply chains which can have a significant impact on household food waste. We support the work of multinational food businesses in raising the issue at multinational engagements such as the UN Food Systems Summit to advance the reduction of household food waste.

G7 members recognise the importance of addressing food loss and waste both Nationally and Internationally and the part that sharing of best practise and lessons learned can have. Case studies can play a crucial role in increasing knowledge transfer and instigating further discussion. The publication of this document and the G7 Best Practice Examples on Reducing Household Food Waste, via the Alliance for Resource Efficiency website and the UK G7 Presidency website alongside the Climate and Environment Ministerial Communique will facilitate this.