Global food and beverage industry giants Nestlé and Danone have joined over 40 companies in a bid aimed at cutting food waste in France through a focus on labelling. The two companies join cheesemaker Bel Group and retailer Carrefour in the initiative, which was devised by Danish startup Too Good To Go.
Food waste
Photo: Sustaination
There is an estimated 88 million tonnes of food wasted every year in the EU - around 173 kg per person. The European Commission has said that consumption dates are responsible for 20% of total food waste at home and 5% of waste during production, as well as the primary source of waste at retail level.
In France, to combat this, Too Good To Go has launched a "pact" that focuses on consumption dates in an attempt to increase consumer awareness of the difference between "best before" and "use by" dates food packaging.
Signatories to the pact are also being asked to "optimise" stock monitoring in order to avoid food waste.
Companies signing up to the pact are undertaking to:
- Implement actions to meet the 10 commitments of the Pact;
- Measure the impact on reducing food waste;
- Work in concert with the common goal of reducing food waste caused by consumption dates;
- Take on the role of educator towards consumers and employees by raising awareness about consumption dates.
"Our Consumption Dates Pact is the opportunity for entities that usually compete to collaborate and exchange ideas to act and do better together. Consumers are now asking for concrete actions to combat food waste," said Too Good To Go co-founder and president, Lucie Basch.
"Food waste is an economic, ecological and social aberration. As a major player in the food industry, it is our responsibility to avoid waste in the production of our products. But it does not stop at the doors of our factories, it is important to give our consumers all the keys to adopt the right actions. Our commitment to Too Good To Go is part of this conviction," said Christophe Cornu, President of Nestlé France.
Back to Homepage
Back to Consumer Goods