by Brianna Crandall — September 25, 2015—U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Gina McCarthy and U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced last week the United States’ first-ever national food waste reduction goal, calling for a 50-percent reduction by 2030. As part of the effort, the federal government will lead a new partnership with charitable organizations, faith-based organizations, the private sector, and local, state and tribal governments to reduce food loss and waste in order to improve overall food security and conserve the nation’s natural resources.
The announcement occurred one week before world leaders gathered at the United Nations General Assembly in New York to address sustainable development practices, including sustainable production and consumption. As the global population continues to grow, so does the need for food waste reduction, reminds EPA. “Let’s feed people, not landfills,” encouraged EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy.
Food loss and waste in the United States accounts for approximately 31 percent — or 133 billion pounds — of the overall food supply available to retailers and consumers, and has far-reaching impacts on food security, resource conservation and climate change, according to EPA.
Food loss and waste is the single largest component of disposed U.S. municipal solid waste, and accounts for a significant portion of U.S. methane emissions, which fuel climate change. This large volume of wasted food is a main contributor to the roughly 18 percent of total U.S. methane emissions that come from landfills. Landfills are the third largest source of methane in the United States, notes EPA.
Furthermore, experts have projected that reducing food losses by just 15 percent would provide enough food for more than 25 million Americans every year, helping to sharply reduce incidences of food insecurity for millions. It is estimated that at the retail and consumer levels in the United States, food loss and waste totals $161 billion dollars. Even in an office environment, measures can be taken to reduce food waste.
Ongoing federal initiatives are already building momentum for long-term success. In 2013, USDA and EPA launched the U.S. Food Waste Challenge, creating a platform for leaders and organizations across the food chain to share best practices on ways to reduce, recover, and recycle food loss and waste. By the end of 2014, the U.S. Food Waste Challenge had over 4,000 active participants, well surpassing its initial goal of reaching 1,000 participants by 2020.
EPA is working with nearly 800 grocers, restaurants, venues, stadiums, and other organizations to reduce wasted food through prevention, donation, and composting. In 2014, participants in EPA’s Food Recovery Challenge diverted nearly 606,000 tons of wasted food, which included over 88,500 tons donated to people in need.
USDA and EPA will also continue to encourage the private sector — food service companies, institutions, restaurants, grocery stores, and more — to set their own aggressive goals for reducing food loss and waste in the months ahead. Organizations such as the Consumer Goods Forum, which recently approved a new resolution to halve food waste within the operations of its 400 retailer and manufacturer members by 2025, are helping to lead the way.
The first-ever national food waste goal is one part of the Obama Administration’s commitment to protecting the environment for future generations and leading global efforts to address the threat of climate change. By setting achievable environmental goals, the Administration is making strides to help boost the economy and protect the health of American families for the long term, says EPA.
A wide array of voices from across the food chain applauded the announcement of the first national standards for food waste reduction. The EPA press release quoted officials from Sodexo North America, the Food Marketing Institute, Sustainable America, the World Resources Institute, Albertsons, City Harvest, FreshDirect, Le Bernardin, the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy, and Feeding America.
