A partnership of leading international organizations has launched the Food Loss and Waste Accounting and Reporting Standard at the Global Green Growth Forum (3GF) 2016 Summit in Copenhagen. The standard is the first set of global definitions and reporting requirements for companies, governments and others to measure, report on and manage food loss and waste. The standard comes as a growing number of entities are making commitments to reduce waste.

An estimated one-third of all food is lost or wasted worldwide; meanwhile, more than 800 million people are undernourished. Globally, food loss and waste costs up to $940 billion per year. It also generates about 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

“This standard is a real breakthrough,” said Andrew Steer, president and CEO, World Resources Institute. “For the first time, armed with the standard, countries and companies will be able to quantify how much food is lost and wasted, where it occurs, and report on it in a highly credible and consistent manner. There’s simply no reason that so much food should be lost and wasted. Now, we have a powerful new tool that will help governments and businesses save money, protect resources and ensure more people get the food they need.”

The Food Loss and Waste Protocol is a multi-stakeholder partnership convened by World Resources Institute and initiated at the 3GF 2013 Summit. FLW Protocol partners include: The Consumer Goods Forum, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), EU-funded FUSIONS project, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), WRAP (The Waste and Resources Action Programme) and World Resources Institute.

“Waste makes everybody poorer. I am pleased that a new strong alliance between public and private actors will provide an efficient answer to the global challenge of food loss and waste,” said Kristian Jensen, Denmark’s minister for foreign affairs. “3GF has promoted yet another green and innovative solution to global challenges. The new Food Loss and Waste Standard will reduce economic losses for the consumer and food industry, alleviate pressure on natural resources and contribute to realizing the ambitious goals set out in the SDGs. We need to push for more solutions like this for the benefit of people, profit and the planet.”

International momentum to curb food loss and waste is growing with governments and businesses making commitments to address this issue. However, most do not know how much food is lost or wasted or exactly where it occurs within their borders, operations or supply chains. The definition of food loss and waste has also varied widely; without a consistent accounting and reporting framework it has been difficult to compare data and develop effective strategies, according to experts.

Creating inventories in conformance with the FLW Standard is a critical foundation to develop effective strategies for reducing food loss and waste and monitor progress over time. Moreover, it can help governments and companies meet international commitments, including the Paris Agreement on climate change and UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In particular, SDG Target 12.3 calls for a 50% global reduction in food waste by 2030, along with reductions in food loss.

The FLW Standard will also help reduce food loss and waste within the private sector. In 2015, The Consumer Goods Forum, which represents more than 400 of the world’s largest retailers and manufacturers from 70 countries, adopted a resolution for its members to reduce food waste from their operations by 50% by 2025, with baselines and progress to be measured using the FLW Standard. Some leading companies, like Nestlé and Tesco, are already measuring and publicly reporting on their food loss and waste.

For the last three years, Nestlé, the world’s largest food company, has, in the framework of the WRI, played a significant part in developing the standard as a tool that can be adapted worldwide by all parts in the food chain from farm to fork.

“We clearly see this standard as a massive, global step in fighting food loss and waste,” said Nestlé’s Nordic Market Head Michiel Kernkamp. “The standard is outstanding in its setting of clear targets and in its full transparency. But maybe most of all it is outstanding as a tool where you can measure your steady progress within food loss and waste. What gets measured can be managed. At Nestlé, we will definitely also benefit significantly by using the standard to help us address food loss and waste across the value chain.”

Peter Bakker, president and CEO, World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), said wasting a third of food produced is a clear symptom of a global food system in trouble. “The FLW Standard is pivotal to setting a reliable baseline for streamlined and efficient action on the ground for countries, cities, and small and big businesses along the food value chain. Together with tangible business solutions, the FLW Standard can help to significantly reduce food loss and waste around the globe.”

Peter Freedman, managing director of the Consumer Goods Forum, added that food waste is a $940 billion problem, and the FLW Standard will help companies assess and mange food waste with consistency and transparency.

“The scale of the problem of food loss and waste can be difficult to comprehend, noted Achim Steiner, executive director, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). “Having this new standard by which to measure food loss and waste will not only help us understand just how much food is not making it to our mouths, but will help set a baseline for action. UNEP welcomes the new FLW Standard and calls on countries and companies to use it to start measuring and reporting food loss and waste, in parallel to taking action to deliver on SDG Target 12.3: Halve food waste by 2030.”

The Food Loss and Waste Protocol can be found at www.FLWProtocol.org.