sector action plans leading industry-wide and systemic change to end food waste.

Together with industry partners we’re identifying food waste hotspots – areas of food waste to target for highest impact change – and developing workable priority actions unique to specific sectors.

Meet our Sector Action Plans

We’re uniquely positioned to lead industry-wide change with our partners from food businesses, industry bodies and government to take a whole-of-sector view on food waste solutions.

Some Sector Action Plans cover an entire sector, like dairy. Others have chapters based on specific commodities, like bananas and melons for horticulture. There is also supply chain stage, such as foodservice with chapters for hospitality, institutions, cafes and more.

1.

Bread &
Bakery.

More than 319,400 tonnes per year of food is wasted across the Australian bread and bakery value chain.
This food waste is equivalent to the weight of 456 million loaves of bread, creating costs for businesses, households, and the environment.

Dec 2022
Summary
Developed by End Food Waste Australia & Rawtec
Sept 2022
Action Plan
Developed by End Food Waste Australia & Rawtec
June 2023
Dont waste your dough
Developed by Baking Association of Australia
2.

Dairy.

Food waste from the dairy supply chain has previously been identified as one of the six highest Australian food waste sources.

This Sector Action Plan is the Australian dairy industry’s response to the Australian Federal Government’s goal of halving food waste by 2030.

June 2023
Action Plan
Developed with Dairy Australia
2025
TRANSITIONING TO THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY THROUGH DIFFERENT BUSINESS MODELS
Jack B. Hetherington, Dr. Pablo Juliano, A/Prof. Adam J. Loch, Francesca Goodman-Smith & Prof. Simon Lockrey
3.

food
cold chain.

“The Food Cold Chain Sector Action Plan points the way to how our industry will respond to reducing food waste,”
– AFCCC Chair Mark Mitchell

June 2022
Summary
Developed with Australia Food Cold Chain Council
June 2023
Action Plan
Developed with Australia Food Cold Chain Council
4.

Food
Rescue.

“This work will have a positive impact on the lives of millions of Australians who are currently food insecure, while at the same time helping to reduce food waste.”
– Foodbank Australia GM Sarah Pennell.

Sept 2022
Summary
Co-designed with Foodbank Australia, OzHarvest, SecondBite & FareShare
Sept 2022
Action Plan
Developed with Foodbank Australia, OzHarvest, SecondBite & FareShare
Apr 2023
Top tips for donating fresh produce
Developed by End Food Waste Australia
Apr 2023
Donation full report
Developed by End Food Waste Australia
5.

Food
service.

In collaboration with industry, we are working on Hospitality and Foodservice Sector Action Plans for Cafes, Catering, Quick Service Resturants (QSRs), and Hospitals & Institutions.

These will be evidence-based plans, supported by the End Food Waste Cooperative Research Centre.

Learn more about the research informing the QSRs plan here, the Institutions Hospitals and Aged Care plan here, and the Cafes Sector Action Plan here.
Feb 2024
Foodservice Sector Action Plan Overview
Developed by End Food Waste Australia
SEP 2024
CAFÉ FOOD WASTE ACTION PLAN SUMMARY
Developed by End Food Waste Australia and RMIT, funded by the Queensland Government and NSW EPA.
OCT 2024
CAFÉ SECTOR ACTION PLAN FULL REPORT
Developed by End Food Waste Australia and RMIT, funded by the Queensland Government and NSW EPA.
Feb 2024
Catering Food Waste Action Plan Summary
Developed by End Food Waste Australia and Rawtec funded by Green Industries SA
Feb 2024
Catering Sector Action Plan Full Report
Developed by End Food Waste Australia and Rawtec funded by Green Industries SA
Oct 2024
Catering Toolkit
Developed by End Food Waste Australia in collaboration with industry and NSW EPA.
2025
HOSPITALS & AGED CARE SECTOR ACTION PLAN SUMMARY
End Food Waste Australia
HOSPITAL AND AGED CARE SECTOR ACTION PLAN – FULL REPORT
2025
Precincts Final Report
End Food Waste Australia & NSW EPA
2025
TACKLING FOOD WASTE TOGETHER REDUCING FOODSERVICE FOOD WASTE IN PRECINCTS: A TOOLKIT FOR A COUNCIL-LED PILOT
End Food Waste Australia
6.

horti
culture.

Fresh produce currently comprises 50% of all food waste in Australia.

End Food Waste Australia is leading a whole-of-sector approach to find and deliver food waste solutions within horticulture.

To Learn More View the Horticulture Project Page.
MAR 2024
HORTICULTURE SECTOR ACTION PLAN SUMMARY
DEVELOPED BY END FOOD WASTE AUSTRALIA AND CQU WITH FUNDING FROM THE QUEENSLAND GOVERNMENT
MAR 2024
HORTICULTURE SECTOR ACTION PLAN TECHNICAL REPORT
DEVELOPED BY END FOOD WASTE AUSTRALIA AND CQU WITH FUNDING FROM THE QUEENSLAND GOVERNMENT
MAR 2024
BANANA INDUSTRY SECTOR ACTION PLAN SUMMARY
DEVELOPED BY END FOOD WASTE AUSTRALIA, CQU AND AUSTRALIAN BANANA GROWERS' COUNCIL WITH FUNDING FROM HORT INNOVATION
MAR 2024
BANANA INDUSTRY SECTOR ACTION PLAN TECHNICAL REPORT
DEVELOPED BY END FOOD WASTE AUSTRALIA, CQU AND AUSTRALIAN BANANA GROWERS' COUNCIL WITH FUNDING FROM HORT INNOVATION
MAR 2024
MELON INDUSTRY SECTOR ACTION PLAN SUMMARY
DEVELOPED BY END FOOD WASTE AUSTRALIA, CQU AND MELONS AUSTRALIA WITH FUNDING FROM HORT INNOVATION
MAR 2024
MELON INDUSTRY SECTOR ACTION PLAN TECHNICAL REPORT
DEVELOPED BY END FOOD WASTE AUSTRALIA, CQU AND MELONS AUSTRALIA WITH FUNDING FROM HORT INNOVATION
Case studies

Serving up food waste measurement and action with International Convention Centre Sydney (ICC Sydney)

International Convention Centre Sydney (ICC Sydney) shares the important role food waste reduction plays in achieving their social, environmental and economic goals, how to implement and leverage food waste sorting and measurement, and the challenges and opportunities of supporting visitors and clients to save food. 

Read More

When purpose meets profit: Radish Events’ mission to reduce food waste

Addressing food waste in the hospitality sector is both a challenge and an opportunity; explore how Radish Events’ commitment to reducing food waste has both environmental and financial benefits, and how they are making an impact – one fish head croquette at a time. 

Read More

Reducing the impact of food waste at Humble Bakery

Managing food waste is easily overlooked in the day-to-day of a small bakery. Humble Bakery, an artisan bakery located in the Sydney suburb of Surry Hills, begun separating their food waste for recycling. Doing so helped them become more aware of food waste volumes, and be able to take actions to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, and is the start of a bigger journey to reduce food waste.
Introducing the organics bins was described as unexpectedly easy and that once food waste is separated from other waste streams it becomes visible and once it is easy to see it becomes easier to change.

Read More

Daily Briefings to Reduce Food Waste at Bob & Pete’s

Bob and Pete’s identified an opportunity to reduce bakery waste by communicating waste to production staff and involving them in the waste minimisation problem solving process. The company began including loss value of waste in their daily briefings.
The initiative has increased staff knowledge of waste, is used to gain insights from staff on opportunities to reduce waste, and has helped reduce waste in their operations.

Read More
Taking action

Further, faster when we work together.

As we continue work on Sector Action Plans, we invite government and industry collaboration. If you are a part of the above sectors and would like to get involved, please register your interest with our team.

Learn More
other ways to take action

Discover the Australian Food Pact and how you can become part of the plan to end food waste and create a more sustainable future.

Learn More

Research with us.

We have a world leading Cooperative Research Centre. As global thought leaders, we are always looking for the next generation of future leaders.

Learn More

Food Rescue.

Don’t let all your hard work go to waste. We’ve partnered with four of Australia’s leading Food Rescue Charities to play an important part in feeding those in need.

Learn More