Increased transparency and public reporting are widely recognised as key triggers for rapid internal action and help build consumer trust in companies’ engagements on the issue. The Coalition is dedicated to the Target, Measure, Act approach, and has a harmonised approach to measurement and reporting.

The Food Waste and Loss Standard provides requirements and guidance for quantifying and reporting on the weight of food and/or associated inedible parts removed from the food supply chain, in a consistent manner. As part of the Coalition’s objective to facilitate public reporting, a harmonised reporting template was developed in collaboration with WRAP and WRI. The tool is available to all CGF members via the Data Capture Sheet, hosted on WRAP’s website. Coalition members are also committed to public reporting on progress, for example via the Food Waste Atlas.

Understanding and reporting on the scale of food waste and loss,  is key to identifying solutions and reaching SDG 12.3. Effective measurement allows us to effectively track our progress and achievements along our pathway to our 2030 goal, as well as giving us a clear picture of the work that remains to be done by our Coalition, both upstream and downstream.

In November 2023, the Coalition released its first baseline report, presenting operational food surplus and waste aggregated data from sixteen of its retailer and manufacturer members. Using  2021 as a baseline), the report was compiled by WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme), and marks the a significant step in the industry’s journey to effective reporting and greater transparency on progress.

All of those in the food industry have a role to play in halting food waste and huge gains can be made on the fight against climate change if we can scale up our work.