EuroCommerce and FoodDrinkEurope, which respectively represent the commerce and food and agri-foodstuff sectors in Europe, have welcomed the European Parliament’s resolution in favour of a strategy to combat food waste. “We are fully committed to reducing food waste. This is a vast challenge but one that has to be undertaken. Reducing waste and cutting food loss makes sense, not only from an environmental and ethical standpoint but also from an economic point of view,” said Christian Verschueren, the managing director of EuroCommerce.

Indeed, the EP’s non-legislative resolution, which was adopted on 19 January, calls for a 50% reduction of food waste by 2025, and for the improvement of access to food for underprivileged persons. With this in mind, MEPs propose introducing a dual expiration date (sell-by date and use-by date) to avoid food being put on sale too close to its expiry date. They also call on public institutions to give priority to, and to reward, responsible catering establishments.

“Finding solutions to food wastage is a key priority for the food and drink industry because the resources and sustainability measures put into the production of food, such as the raw materials, water and fuels, are also wasted when food is wasted, for example in households,” said FoodDrinkEurope, which particularly welcomes the fact that efforts made by manufacturers to reduce waste, as well as the role of packaging, are been recognised by the EU.