Too Good To Go is urging the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) to reconsider its decision not to mandate food waste disclosures until the end of 2026.

This comes as the process becomes voluntary, despite 80% of consultation respondents saying they would be in favour of a mandate.

In documents seen by The Grocer, the government said the decision not to go ahead with compulsory food waste reporting was due to costs to large businesses.

However, Too Good To Go has said that by not going ahead with plans, it poses a “dangerous threat” to achieving the 2030 environmental and 2050 net-zero goals set out by the government.

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It added that it undermines the UK’s pledge to the Sustainable Development Goals, including a commitment to reduce food waste by 50% by 2030.

Too Good To Go co-founder, Jamie Crummie, said: “Neglecting food waste reduction has far-reaching global consequences, with food waste contributing 10% of all greenhouse gas emissions, surpassing even the aviation industry’s impact.”

He described the decision as “disheartening and regressive”, adding that implementing mandatory reporting would be “a pivotal and necessary step in supporting people and businesses on their journey to reduce food waste.”

“Moreover, the crucial data would foster collaboration across the entire value chain, saving time and resources, and promoting a united approach towards food waste reduction,” Crummie concluded.