Global Food Pact Network slashes food waste and emissions - calls for government, philanthropic and business support

• First global report shows huge reductions in food waste and GHG emissions by national and regional Food Pacts.
• 2.7 million tonnes of surplus food redistributed - 7 billion meals saved.
• 220,000 tonnes of food waste avoided - 600 jumbo jets worth of food saved.
• Australia, Brazil, Indonesia, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, South Africa, the UK and the United States drive global action voluntarily.

The first global report of the Food Pact Network is published today and shows substantial reductions in food waste and associated greenhouse gas emissions. But – warns WRAP - without significant financial support, committed action, and policy backing from national governments, philanthropic organisations, and key businesses we will not be able to achieve the steps needed to slow climate change.

The Food Pact Network was convened by global environmental action NGO WRAP in 2024. It has united ten national and regional Food Pacts across nine countries that account for 14% of the global population and around 20% of global food waste. The Food Pacts have the support of 920 organisations, including 550 food businesses, and are in countries that generate 38% of global GDP.

Today's report outlines the impacts of each Food Pact based on its in-country successes and as a combined Network. Cumulatively, an estimated 680,000 tonnes of CO₂e were prevented through food waste reduction actions (equivalent to 240,000 cars taken off the road for a year) and 220,000 tonnes of food saved from waste - equivalent weight of 600 fully loaded jumbo jets*.

Catherine David, CEO WRAP said, “The Food Pact Network is on a roll and making strong inroads - achieving real reductions in food waste, realising cost savings for businesses and citizens, and benefitting the environment. The model works - wherever you put it - and by operating across the supply chain is helping to make businesses better and more future proof, and our food system more efficient, reliable and sustainable. We have the potential to really go global now, and that's my message to governments, businesses and funders. Join us as we go further, faster and free ourselves from the cost and injustice of food waste."

Food waste is a global crisis effecting society, the environment, and economies. Every year more than one billion tonnes of food is lost or wasted - the equivalent of 90 truckloads every minute; double the amount that could feed the 783 million people who go hungry globally. Food waste produces 8-10% of global greenhouse gas emissions and costs the global economy over USD 1 trillion every year. Food waste is embedded in how we grow, sell, and consume food and driven by economic incentives that favour excessive production, regulations that hinder redistribution, infrastructure that neglects sustainability, and cultural norms equating abundance with prosperity.

David Rogers, Director of International Development, WRAP “Tackling Food Waste is the gateway to many benefits, including reducing emissions, improving land use, and tackling hunger. Countries with Food Pacts are making significant progress towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 12.3 – to halve global food waste by 2030. We know the model works, as these numbers prove, and we need to dramatically scale up activity. This requires increased business participation, funding and technical expertise from WRAP and our partners around the world.”

In its 2024 Food Waste Index, The United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) highlighted the scalability of the Food Pact model, stating that coordinated action of this kind delivers faster, deeper impact. Today's report was unveiled by WRAP CEO Catherine David at the Bridging the Gaps - Advancing Coherent Policies for Climate Adaptation and Mitigation for Agriculture and Food Systems in Brazil.

Crucially, the Food Pact Network report sets out direct action for funders and philanthropists, national governments, and food businesses:

• Funders and philanthropy: must invest in the Food Pact Network to accelerate proven solutions to deepen impact in countries with Food Pacts and support the expansion of new Pacts where the most impact can be made, to improve food security and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

• Governments: must lead through policy and investment to make food loss and waste a national priority. Integrate food loss and waste reduction into climate plans and review policy barriers to food waste reduction such as redistribution and waste prevention. Fund, champion and partner with your country's food Pact.

• Food and drink businesses: must commit to action on food waste and become a signatory to your Food Pact. Set business targets on food waste reduction, track and measure data and act on insights to prevent food loss and waste in your supply chains and customers' homes, improve efficiency in your supply chain, and save your business money.

The United Kingdom - generates over 10 million tonnes of food waste annually, with households the largest single source. The original Food Pact, UK Food and Drink Pact(formerly Courtauld Commitment) has 403 member organisations including 271 large food and drink businesses. Between 2007 and 2021/22, the UK achieved a 22% per capita reduction in food waste. Surplus food redistribution has topped 1.6 billion meals UK-wide between 2015 and 2023, with sector-wide adoption of the Target–Measure–Act approach and millions of people reached each year through Love Food Hate Waste campaign. The programme runs an international water stewardship project in Spain, South Africa, and the UK and continues to influence national policy development. The Food & Drink Pact is funded by UK government (Defra) and business contributions, with support from charitable foundations and collaborative programmes. 

 Ends

Notes to editor

• *Between 2019 and 2024 - Food Pacts were set up at various times and are at differing stages of development. These figures are based on comparable data from more advanced Pacts. See full report for details.
• Full Report - Transforming the food system together - A global movement to halve food loss and waste for climate, people and shared prosperity 
• WRAP is a global environmental action NGO catalysing policy makers, businesses and individuals to transform the systems that create our food, textiles and manufactured products. Together these account for nearly 50% of global greenhouse emissions. Our goal is to enable the world to transition from the old take-make-dispose model of production to more sustainable approaches that will radically reduce waste and carbon emissions from everyday products. To do so we examine sustainability challenges through the lens of people's day-to-day lives and create solutions that can transform entire systems to benefit the planet, nature and people.

Australia - 7.6 million tonnes of food goes to waste in Australia each year, costing the economy $36.6 billion annually. End Food Waste Australia launched in October 2021 with seed funding from the Federal Government. The Pact is now sustained by business contributions, project funding and philanthropy raising over $8 million (5,200,000 USD) to date. Between 2022/24 Pact members reduced food waste by 16,000 tonnes, avoided 505,545 tonnes of GHG emissions and saved $57m. 254 million meals were donated by signatories through redistribution.

• End Food Waste Australia CEO, Tristan Butt: “When industry works together we can transform our food system, and the Australian Food Pact proves it. In just three years, our signatories have cut food waste by 13% (16,000 tonnes), saved $57 million, avoided $2 million in landfill levies, and found new uses for 982,000 tonnes of food. As part of the international Food Pact Network, led by our founding partner WRAP, we are proud to collaborate and share best-practice knowledge with a global community of dedicated food waste professionals.”

Brazil – food waste estimates in Brazil range from 23- 82.1 million tonnes each year, at a cost of R$ 61.3 billion (11.52 billion USD). Brasil Sem Desperdício was launched in October 2025 with R$ 4.75 million (855,000 USD) initial funding through WRAP and the Rainier Climate Group.  It is led by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Brasil, in partnership with WRAP. 11 companies signed a letter of intent to become signatories with NGO and governmental supporters including the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the Ministry of Social Development and Assistance, Family and Fight Against Hunger (MDS), Akatu Institute, Zero Hunger Institute, GoodTruck, All4Food Network, Ellen MacArthur Foundation, and Serviço Social do Comércio (SESC).

Indonesia – estimates range between 23–48 million tonnes of food loss and waste generated annually in Indonesia, with economic losses of around IDR 213–551 trillion. Food waste makes up 40% of national solid waste and contributes around 7% of the country's total CO₂ emissions. Gotong Royong Atasi Susut dan Sisa Pangan di 2030 (GRASP2030) has 45 members across manufacturing, retail, hospitality, food banks, NGOs, and research institutions. GRASP has implemented a consumer-facing national awareness campaign to encourage positive behaviours around food purchase, storage and use. The Pact has run a pilot project targeting food waste in the hotel, restaurant and café sector. It is led by the Indonesia Business Council for Sustainable Development (IBCSD) in partnership with WRAP.

• Aloysius Wiratmo, Program Development Manager IBCSD:"With the support of WRAP and global food network, GRASP 2030 has been growing as emerging national food pact uniting businesses, policy makers, and civil societies to tackle food loss and waste in Indonesia. With currently have 45 signatories from just 9 in its establishment in 2021, this multi-stakeholder collaboration has co-created a first national guideline for a safe and effective food surplus redistribution and promises bigger impacts integrating innovation, policy, and collaborative actions aligning with SDG 12.3.”

Mexico – between 20–30 million tonnes of food waste arise in Mexico every year. Food waste costs the country an estimated US$25 billion annually, equivalent to 2.5% of GDP. Pacto Por La Comida, led by RED BAMX (Red de Bancos de Alimentos de Mexico) in partnership with WRAP was launched in 2021. It works through voluntary agreements with private sector partners, technical assistance and measurement via environmental consultancy SIPRA and runs education and consumer behaviour change campaigns. A landmark achievement was the 2024 Household Food Waste Study, the first large-scale, evidence-based assessment of its kind in Mexico. Its insights are informing strategies to target priority areas for action and public awareness campaigns.

• L.N. Karen González Nissen, Coordinadora Jr. Pacto por la Comida BAMX: "Preventing food loss and waste is not only an environmental goal — it's a social responsibility. Through Pacto por la Comida, an initiative led by The Mexican Foodbanking Network (Red BAMX), and in collaboration with the Food Pact Network, we're joining forces to inspire a cultural shift that values food, protects resources, and builds a more sustainable and equitable future."

The Netherlands - around 20% of food in the Netherlands is wasted each year, contributing about 5% of the country's national greenhouse gas emissions. Samen Tegen Voedselverspilling was launched in 2018 is led by the Wageningen University & Research, Netherlands Nutrition Center, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature, Province of North- Brabant and Municipality Meijerijstad. It has 190 stakeholders. The Pact has contributed towards country-wide progress on reducing food waste with food waste reduced by 17% nationwide (2015-2023), retail sector food waste down by 33% (2018-2024) and 103,500 tonnes of surplus food redistributed to food banks countrywide (2020-2023).

• Sanne Stroosnijder, Partnership manager, Dutch Food Pact ‘Samen Tegen Voedselverspilling': “Tackling food waste demands action and impact across the full supply chain. The Dutch Food Pact shows that public private partnership with a shared agenda can truly accelerate systemic change. Within the Food Pact Network, we share and care — standing on each other's shoulders to build on what works and move forward faster together.”

New Zealand - around 300,000 tonnes of food waste are sent to landfill in Aotearoa New Zealand every year, contributing 3.8% of the country's total emissions and 9% of biogenic methane. Kai Commitment launched in 2022 and is led by the New Zealand Food Waste Champions 12.3 Trust. Eight major businesses have joined across primary production, manufacturing, and retail. A national survey is underway to capture businesses' food waste perceptions and practices and identify barriers to scaling action. Kai Commitment also contributes to national policy debates, supporting the Prime Minister's Chief Science Advisor's report on food waste. Signatories are delivering tangible social and environmental benefits, including: 20.2 million meals rescued by Signatories in the first two years and charitable redistribution up 55% between year one and two.

• Kai Commitment Executive Director, Kaitlin Dawson: "We're building a movement in Aotearoa New Zealand that values food at every stage and supports communities and industry and protects our precious environment. Using an evidence-based approach, we're helping reduce food waste through collecting vital data, strengthening capability, sharing best practices, and fostering collaboration. Our goal is to make food waste visible as a powerful lever for business-led food security and climate action.”

South Africa - generates an estimated 10.3 million tonnes of food waste annually, equal to 45% of food entering the value chain. Yet almost 20% of households in South Africa experience moderate to severe food insecurity and approximately 1.45 million households experience severe hunger. The South Africa Food Loss and Waste Agreement is led by the Consumer Goods Council of South Africa (CGCSA) in partnership with WRAP. It launched in 2020 and has grown from 16 signatories to 135 by September 2025. Achievements include: A harmonised food loss and waste measurement and reporting tool, translated into South Africa's first secure online reporting platform. Adoption of the Target–Measure–Act approach by core signatories, with internal reduction plans in place. A jointly developed Food Donations Best Practice Guideline, now informing a national Food Donation Management Standard.

• Food Safety and Sustainability Initiative Executive at The Consumer Goods Council of South Africa, Matlou Setati: "Our strength lies in the collective action of our Signatories, and we are proud to confirm that, from the South African Food Loss and Waste Initiative perspective, approximately 44% of the supply chain is now represented within our base. This extensive participation demonstrates the tangible commitment our regional food businesses are making to drive real, lasting change. It's a powerful foundation that allows us to scale our achievements, and we are actively working to bring even more of the sector on board. The learnings and insights from the global food pact network cannot be overemphasised because we are better learning from each other and this brings exciting missions - 16% of freshwater and cropland us and 24% of landfill inputs are connected to uneaten opportunities for future collaborations as we scale globally."

USA - 63 million tonnes of food is wasted every year in the throws US which is responsible for 4% of national greenhouse gas e food. The average family of four away over $3,000 worth of food annually. Nationally, surplus food carries an estimated value of $382 billion, around 1.4% of GDP.

• The U.S. Food Waste Pact is led by ReFED and World Wildlife Fund (WWF). It has established a national platform for collective action and engages with business to reduce food waste. Signatories are engaged in data collection, pilot projects, and collaborative initiatives. By providing shared metrics such as the Unsold Food Rate (retail) and the Food Efficiency Rate (foodservice), the Pact is helping to standardise reporting and highlight opportunities for targeted action.
  • Jackie Suggitt, Vice President, Business Initiatives & Community Engagement, ReFED: “The U.S. Food Waste Pact launched at the end of 2023, and we're excited to already have 29 signatories on board. As we work with them on data collection and analysis, intervention projects, sector summits, and more, it's been so great to be part of the larger Food Pact Network. We've been able to learn from other pacts around the world, share our own insights and ideas, and work collectively to drive real progress around food waste.”
• The Pacific Coast Food Waste Commitment is led by Ross Strategic and has been operating since 2019. It has convened multiple working groups and sector summits. Grocery retail signatories have prevented more than 174,000 tons of food from going to waste, cutting unsold food rates by 30%. Over 76,000 tons of surplus food were donated by retail signatories to charitable organisations in 2023. Pilot projects across dairy, grain, fruit, and hospitality sectors have delivered significant reductions in food waste — from 50–70% in manufacturing plants through employee-led innovation, to a 60% cut in a major hospitality trial.