Trade bodies the Grocery Manufacturers Association and the Food Marketing Institute have released details of a three-year initiative aimed at helping their industry reduce food waste.
Speaking at the GMA Executives conference in Colorado Springs, Colo., GMA consultant Meghan Stasz said the Food Waste Opportunities and Challenges initiative will rely on participation from food retailers, manufacturers and the food service industry, Supermarket News reports.
Possible program elements include encouraging retailers, manufacturers and restaurants located near each other to pool their waste, so they have enough volume to justify working with a composter, Stasz said.
Participants will work to provide a greater supply of items to food banks. The members will also seek to identify causes of food waste and to identify best practices and policy initiatives.
The drive was launched in June. Its leadership committee is drawn from the GMA and representatives of General Mills, Publix Super Markets, Wegmans Food Markets, Supervalu, Ahold USA, the National Restaurant Association, Feeding America and Waste Management.
Stasz will become the association's director of sustainability next month.
Picture credit: Jbloom
