The government has been faced with backlash for scrapping new food waste legislation that could have reduced food prices and helped tackle the climate crisis, campaigners argue.
According to The Guardian, the policy would have made food waste reporting mandatory for large and medium-sized businesses in England.
Research by the environmental campaign group Feedback found that just a 1% reduction in food waste would have saved food businesses an estimated total of at least £24.4m a year.
The government defended scrapping the legislation by claiming that the costs for businesses to regulate food waste reporting could drive food inflation even higher.
A Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) spokesperson said: “A regulatory approach which we estimate to cost businesses around £5.3m is not suitable in the current economic climate, especially when any additional costs may be passed on to consumers.”
While Defra “remain committed” to tackling food waste, they have suggested expanding the government-funded waste charity Wrap’s specialist taskforce encouraging businesses to report voluntarily.
However, Wrap noted a “disappointing” lack of voluntary reporting by businesses, adding that “enhanced voluntary reporting” would be more expensive than mandatory food waste reporting.
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Senior policy and campaigns manager at Feedback Martin Bowman told The Guardian that this was “an immediately achievable goal” that would “more than offset the costs of measurement and reporting, saving millions of pounds, and helping struggling families by lowering food inflation”.
Co-founder of Too Good To Go Jamie Crummie said: “Food waste contributes 10% of all greenhouse gas emissions, surpassing the aviation industry’s impact.
“As we are witnessing the devastating effect of climate change first-hand across Europe this summer, a decision like this from Defra feels particularly disheartening,” he added.
Earlier this month, Too Good To Go urged the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) to reconsider its decision not to mandate food waste disclosures until the end of 2026.
