Repackaging Food Waste

“Collaboration is absolutely pivotal to tackling food waste.”

Retailers are significantly impacted by food waste. With their vantage point between producer and consumer, they are also uniquely placed to influence change. Could they go one step further and turn this issue into an opportunity?

Wasted food isn't just bad for the planet – it's bad for business. Surplus produce and products affect revenue, push up prices, and increase a company's carbon footprint. As Ben Thomas explains, supermarkets are beginning to respond with innovative solutions.

Ben is Senior Environment Manager at Waitrose. He explains the importance of examining the supply chain both upstream and downstream. This process enables surplus to be identified and reincorporated into the system. Produce that might have been wasted can instead be put to best use.

This attention to detail also creates new revenue opportunities. Waitrose’s ‘Wonderfully Wonky’ range of fruit and vegetables, for example, have the same nutritional value and taste sold at a reduced price. Creating circular food systems benefits retailers, consumers, farmers, and the environment.

When marketed correctly, these initiatives help drive positive purchasing decisions. Supermarkets can empower customers through clear on-pack labelling and messaging. They can also provide more choice and increase product lifecycles by removing ‘best before’ dates.

Waitrose works closely with FareShare to ensure surplus is not wasted. Through its network of charitable food redistributors, food is collected daily and diverted to those who are in most need.

As Ben says, innovation is critical. Waitrose was the first UK retailer to partner with Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s Big Food Redesign Challenge. This project was launched to inspire producers around the world to redesign food products and create new ones to help nature thrive.

Regenerative food solutions have multiple benefits. As well as reducing waste they help customers understand the provenance of products, how they’re produced, and their impact on nature. Some of the Big Food Redesign Challenge products will be available on Waitrose shelves in 2025.

Food waste is a contributor to climate change, but the food sector’s acknowledgement and action through accelerated programs is gaining pace. If retailers, food producers and suppliers continue to collaborate, and to create new opportunities, we might see the whole premise of food waste scrapped.

To learn more about Waitrose, visit their website.