Metcash join the Australian Food Pact and fight to end food waste.
In Australia, the equivalent of 29 million meals go to waste every day – enough to provide every Australian with lunch daily. Food waste is a problem from paddock to plate and leading Australian food businesses are stepping up and helping play a critical role working together to end food waste in Australia through the Australian Food Pact.
Metcash, who support a network of more than 1,600 independently owned supermarket stores in Australia, including those operating under IGA and Foodland banners, and an extensive range of private label products, are the most recent Signatories to the Australian Food Pact.
Estella Young, Executive General Manager, Merchandise at Metcash Food, said reducing food waste supports our communities, conserves resources, and plays a crucial role in addressing climate change.
“This partnership between Metcash and the Australian Food Pact represents our next major step in the national collaborative efforts required to end food waste.
“Joining the Australian Food Pact builds on the outstanding work our stores and team members have already done to reduce food waste and support food rescue. Since 2010, we’ve partnered with Foodbank, and as a founding supporter of Food for Change, we provided close to 2.5 million meals last year to those in need,” says Young.
Dr Steven Lapidge Chief Executive Officer at End Food Waste Australia, the organisation leading the Australian Food Pact, said food waste is a challenge too big for any one business or sector to solve alone.
“Food waste is a 7.6 million tonne and $36.6 billion challenge in Australia – collaboration across the supply chain is required to end food waste. The Australian Food Pact is a pledge of support for people and the planet, with businesses coming together for a food waste free Australia.”
“End Food Waste Australia welcomes Metcash to the Australian Food Pact and thanks them for committing their time and resources to the bold and important goal of halving food waste by 2030.”
The Australian Food Pact launched in October 2021 and has since been joined by 37 organisations committed to food waste action including Mars, Unilever, Simplot, McCain Foods, Goodman Fielder, TipTop, Coles and Woolworths.
For more information about the Australian Food Pact visit www.endfoodwaste.com.au/Australian-food-pact
For more information about Metcash’s Sustainability work visit https://www.metcash.com/sustainability/
ABOUT END FOOD WASTE AUSTRALIA
End Food Waste Australia’s vision is an Australia without food waste, starting with halving food waste by 2030. We will end food waste in Australia through research and innovation, industry action, policy development and behaviour change.
We conduct world-leading research through the End Food Waste Cooperative Research Centre, funded by the Australian Government’s Department of Industry, Science and Resources. We lead bold and innovative industry action and collaboration through the Australian Food Pact and Sector Action Plans, supported by the Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.
End Food Waste Australia has formed one of the world’s largest dedicated public-private partnerships of more than 100 organisations focused on addressing Australia’s $36.6 billion food waste challenge. Together, we aim to create a more productive, sustainable, and resilient Australian food system by ending food waste and food insecurity.