A report by waste management company Biffa highlights that up to 2 million tonnes of food waste can be saved by 2029 through effective redistribution solutions.
The report, titled “The UK Journey to Circularity,” was unveiled at Biffa’s Waste Net Zero conference, proposing eight practical interventions and highlighting the crucial role of government legislation and business actions in achieving this target.
Up to 2 million tonnes of food waste could be avoided within the next five years through the implementation of redistribution solutions, according to a recent report by leading sustainable waste management company Biffa. The report, “The UK Journey to Circularity,” was launched at Biffa’s Waste Net Zero conference held at the Birmingham Hippodrome on June 11.
Carla Brian, Head of Partnerships at Biffa, emphasises the need for expanded infrastructure and legislative changes to handle the anticipated increase in segregated food waste
The report, developed in collaboration with consultancy partner WSP, provides a comprehensive framework for circularity research and analysis that can be applied across different resource streams and sectors. It outlines eight critical interventions required from businesses, consumers, and the UK Government, complete with realistic timescales.
Key Findings and Interventions:
- Food Redistribution: The report identifies the expansion of food redistribution as the largest opportunity to combat food loss and waste. By preventing food from entering the waste stream, up to 2 million tonnes of surplus food could be redistributed.
- Legislative Support: The introduction of mandatory food waste segregation legislation is anticipated to prevent an additional 1.4 million tonnes of waste. The Simpler Recycling legislation in England, set to be implemented in 2025, will require businesses with more than ten employees to segregate food waste for dedicated collection.
- Infrastructure Development: Significant investments are needed to expand the existing infrastructure to handle the changes in food waste collection and management. This includes transportation, reverse logistics, sorting, cleaning, and storage capacity.
- Behavioural Changes: Redefining consumer expectations around the visual appearance of food and encouraging the purchase of loose produce can minimise waste. Additionally, better matching of food supply and demand, as well as removing sales tactics like “buy one, get one free” offers, can reduce consumer waste.
- Investment in Anaerobic Digestion: Increasing anaerobic digestion capacity to handle more food waste is essential for energy recovery and waste reduction.
Biffa’s subsidiary, Company Shop Group, has been instrumental in food redistribution by working with manufacturers and retailers to process surplus stock that would otherwise go to waste. In 2023, Company Shop Group redistributed over 45,000 tonnes of food and drink products through its 14 locations and 12 Community Shops, with a new store set to open by the end of June.
Carla Brian, Head of Partnerships at Biffa, emphasises the need for expanded infrastructure and legislative changes to handle the anticipated increase in segregated food waste. She also highlights the importance of investment in food waste reporting systems to better understand and address the UK’s food waste problem.
Biffa’s report presents a detailed roadmap for reducing food waste through a combination of redistribution solutions, legislative support, and infrastructure development. Full details of the framework, including the proposed interventions and their potential impact, are available in “The UK Journey to Circularity” report.
