Setting the scene for an EU initiative on food waste reduction targets : outcomes of consultation activities and analysis of efforts on food waste reduction

This report describes part of the research carried out to support the Impact Assessment of the legislative proposal amending Directive 2008/98/EC, in relation to the part focusing on setting legally binding food waste reduction targets. It illustrates: the outcome of the public consultation on the revision of the Waste Framework Directive, for the part concerning food waste, which showed a high level of agreement with setting legally binding food waste reduction targets ; the results of targeted consultation and data collection on food waste prevention initiatives from stakeholders and Member States (MSs), trough the submission of two questionnaires, aimed at collecting quantitative data on costs and results of food waste prevention initiatives ; the results of an analysis of policy initiatives on food waste prevention undertaken by EU MSs, in terms of efforts and results achieved, which showed some discrepancies between formal commitment to SDG target 12.3 and concrete measures implemented. The high heterogeneity of the food waste prevention initiatives collected is reflected in the high variability of the reported cost of food waste reduction. Few MSs have applied an evidence-based policymaking strategy with medium- or long-term outlooks, while the majority have put in place sporadic initiatives. The evidence gathered suggests that further efforts are needed to monitor food waste quantities and to evaluate the effectiveness of country level food waste prevention initiatives.