Defining Concrete Objectives

Based on what the CGF has learned during years of previous work on food waste, Coalition members have committed to these important steps to reduce food waste. Individual companies will:

  • Publicly adopt and commit to a goal of halving food waste within their own operations by 2030 and strive to reduce food waste in their supply chain and at the customer level in alignment with SDG Target 12.3;
  • Measure food waste in their own operations (according to the Food Loss and Waste Standard) and report publicly through a harmonised approach;
  • Act to reduce food waste both in their own operations and in partnership with suppliers, creating collaborations among Coalition companies where possible;
  • Innovate to help customers reduce food waste; and
  • Support communication strategy by contributing content and acting as public advocate for the CGF.

The value of joining the Coalition for members is also clear. Reducing food loss and waste generates a “triple win.” It can save money for retailers and manufacturers, farmers and households. It can help feed more people and it can alleviate pressure on water, land and climate. The Coalition will also identify new opportunities for reducing food waste through partnerships across CGF members and access a more collaborative dialogue with local governments and NGOs. Finally, knowledge sharing among members on best practices and identification of new initiatives that can be launched among Coalition members will help the Coalition position itself as a leader in the fight against food waste.

Achievements

The CGF has been focused on addressing food loss in the industry since 2015.

  • CGF Board Approves Food Waste Resolution

    The CGF Board approves a Resolution on Food Waste, committing to align with the UN Sustainable Development Goals on the issue and adopt the new Food Waste and Loss Protocol developed by the World Resources Institute.

  • CGF Adopts Food Waste and Loss Protocol; Joins Champions 12.3

    The CGF adopts the World Resources Institute’s Food Loss and Waste Protocol. The CGF also joins Champions 12.3, a global collaboration of industry actors committed to meeting UN SDG 12.3 on halving food loss in the consumer goods industry. The CG

  • CGF Publishes Food Waste Case Study Booklet

    The CGF publishes the first edition of its food waste case study booklet featuring actions and commitments of CGF members in reducing food loss in their supply chains.

  • CGF Collaborates with Champions 12.3

    Working with Champions 12.3, the CGF issues research the clear return of investment of reducing food waste and a Call to Action to simplify and standardise food date labels.

  • CGF Hosts Food Waste and Date Labelling Workshop

    The Consumer Goods Forum’s Environmental Sustainability team holds a Food Waste and Date Labelling Workshop in Chicago, the first of its kind in North America.

  • CGF Launches New Coalition of Action

    In line with the CGF’s global strategy, the Coalition of Action on Food Waste is launched. New Managing Director Wai-Chan Chan joins Champions 12.3 as a Champion.

  • CGF Managing Director Joins "Fixing the Business of Food" Cross-Sector Dialogue & Champions 12.3 Global Call to Action

    As a member of Champions 12.3, the CGF joins dozens of executives in a call to action for governments and industry actors to pursue strategies to “dramatically accelerate efforts to halve food loss and waste by 2030.” CGF Managing Director Wai-Chan Chan, one of the group’s Champions, is one of the signatories of the Call to Global Action on Food Loss and Waste. Wai-Chan also joins the virtual panel, entitled “Fixing the Business of Food: A Critical Cross-Sector Dialogue to Re-Strategize Food Businesses,” to discuss the role of collaborative initiatives like the CGF Food Waste Coalition of Action in global efforts to drive down food waste.

  • CGF Publishes a New Report on Contractual Terms for Reducing Food Waste

    CGF publishes a report entitled ‘Contractual Terms for Reducing Food Waste: Possibilities and Potentials Within Fresh Grocery Supply chains’, produced by the Cornell University. The report offers insights on the role of commercial contracts and food waste prevention in fresh grocery supply chains.

  • CGF members in Argentina Calculate National Food Waste Baseline

    CGF members in Argentina calculate a national food waste baseline, in partnership with UN FAO, Inter American Development Bank, the Argentine Ministry of Agriculture, GS1 Argentina and We-Team.

  • CGF Publishes New Edition of Case Study Booklet

    The CGF published the newest edition of the “Food Waste Commitments & Achievements” case study booklet featuring the actions of 17 Coalition members to reduce food loss and waste.

  • The Coalition Works to Develop Harmonised Reporting Template

    The Coalition contributes to the development and publication of the harmonised reporting template in partnership with WRAP and WRI.

  • The Coalition Starts Reporting Using a Harmonised Cross-Initiative Approach

    Coalition members begin reporting on their food surplus and waste data using 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.