Kerry, a taste and nutrition company, has joined the Australian Food Pact, a commitment to Australia’s goal to cut food waste by half by 2030. As part of the agreement, the company will set targets to cut waste in its operations in line with the best practice set out in the Target Measure Act process. It will also work with supply partners to reduce food loss in its supply chains. 

The company will also quantify food waste in its operations using the World Resource Institute’s Food Loss and Waste Accounting and Reporting Standard and encourage major supply partners to do the same. This will include an assessment of the volumes of food saved, lost or wasted in food donated, composting, energy from waste and landfill, among others, with the intent of turning surplus and wasted food into food recovery to benefit businesses and the community. 

Launched in October 2021, the Australian Food Pact led by Stop Food Waste Australia (SFWA) is a voluntary agreement that calls on companies to help address Australia’s annual $36.6bn food waste challenge. 

John Cahalane, President and CEO, Kerry Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa, said: “The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation reports that 35% of the food grown for human consumption in Australia is wasted, which equates to 7.6 million tonnes per annum. The food industry plays a crucial role in tackling this issue. 

“Supplying sustainable nutrition solutions is part of how we can solve this challenge. As a leader in taste and nutrition solutions, Kerry’s goal is to work with our customers to reach over two billion people every day by 2030, helping consumers eat better, improve our local communities, reduce food waste and with it, environmental impact. 

The company will also lead or support initiatives and goals including working with food rescue and relief organisations to make sure no food safe for human consumption goes to waste, and increasing the amount of safe, surplus food suitable for use as animal feed donated to farmers. Food waste will also be considered in the company’s ongoing product development process. 

“Stop Food Waste Australia welcomes Kerry Australia to the Australian Food Pact and thanks them for committing their time and resources to the bold and important goal of halving Australia’s food waste by 2030,” says Mark Barthel, SFWA COO.