Transitioning into the new year, reducing food waste remains a trending foodservice activity because it addresses so many other trending topics:
- Food waste prevention cuts costs as inflation continues to wear on thin margins.
- Food waste prevention is the #1 most actionable thing the foodservice industry can do to address climate change as concerns over sustainability continue to rise.
- And stopping food waste from being generated leaves valuable resources in the food system as food insecurity continues to increase around the world.
Check out the video above for some inspiration on taking action on food waste this year, and keep reading to see what foodservice prognosticators had to say about why addressing food waste will continue to be top of mind for the industry in 2023:
“Consumers will continue to place more pressure on foodservice to address the climate crisis, and we’ll see more earth-friendly efforts as a result. One major issue we will see addressed: food waste. In addition to the sustainability benefits, cutting waste can also translate to cost savings. From upcycling to waste prevention programs, it will be one of the major ways we see concepts addressing their carbon footprint in 2023.” -FoodService Director
“Food waste concerns will continue to grow. The combination of rising food costs and concern for the environment are making the reduction of food waste a growing priority for all foodservice operations.” -Food Management
“Two key trends in food and beverage sustainability which have been growing for foodservice brands in 2022 are food waste and localism. The scale of food waste is enormous, with the UN estimating that a third of the food produced for human consumption globally is lost annually. The foodservice industry evidently has a significant part to play in this issue as UK charity WRAP reported that in the UK alone, the waste generated by the industry amounts to 1.5 million tons of waste at a loss of GBP1 billion ($1.2 billion). In a time of economic instability, operators can no longer afford to account for such huge losses.” -Verdict Food Service
“2023 will have a real focus on zero food waste and sustainability in the hospitality sector, especially in the UAE. A big focus on domestic produce, reducing carbon footprint, UAE agricultural structures, fresher and more informative supply chains.” -In the Know
“As climate change becomes a more imminent threat, the food and beverage industry will undoubtedly be affected. Organizations will need to consider alternative local sourcing for products and lean into machine learning for energy, water and food waste reduction.” -Food Logistics
Ready to take action on food waste, save money, cut your carbon footprint and more? Reach out to Leanpath right now!
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