Australia is taking a leadership role in addressing food waste through the Australian Food Pact, a voluntary, multi-year initiative launched in 2021 by End Food Waste Australia to bring together businesses across the food supply chain.
This innovative collaboration has already yielded impressive results, including a 13 per cent reduction in food waste (16,000 tonnes) from 2022 to 2024, saving signatories $57 million. By working together and committing to sustainability, the Pact is shaping a more responsible and less wasteful future for the food industry.
A collaborative approach
At its core, the Australian Food Pact is a model of collaboration, bringing together food businesses, industry groups, and government organisations. This shared responsibility fosters the development of practical solutions for minimising waste across the food system.
Pact signatories range from food manufacturers to retailers and charities, with resources like waste tracking tools, technical assessments, and strategic guidance supporting businesses in creating tailored Food Waste Action Plans. The Pact’s ‘Target, Measure, Act’ framework has been key to keeping these companies on track with their sustainability goals.
Goodman Fielder, a regional food manufacturer, reduced its food waste from 5–6 per cent to just 2.4 per cent after joining the Pact. Scott Burgess, operations manager at Goodman Fielder, shared: “Three years ago, we were sitting at around five to six per cent waste, which is quite high for manufacturing facilities.
“Since joining the Australian Food Pact three years ago, we’ve reduced our waste significantly down to 2.4 per cent, which is a great achievement.”
This focus on measuring food waste and setting clear targets is driving change across the sector, creating a culture of collaboration where businesses work together to achieve common sustainability goals.
One of the Pact’s standout achievements is the 13 per cent reduction in food waste between 2022 and 2024.
This decline represents 16,000 tonnes of food worth $57 million, helping businesses reduce waste while improving profitability and contributing to environmental goals.
“We’ve been able to tap into End Food Waste Australia’s tools and expertise to map the food waste at our processing sites and prioritise areas of action,” said Phoebe Dowling, head of Global Food Sustainability at J.R. Simplot Company.
“It’s great to contribute to the broad-ranging impacts that will collectively benefit our environment, farmers, consumers, and our business.”
“Simplot is committed to taking action to reduce food waste as we know it has the potential to financially benefit manufacturers and farmers, help to alleviate pressure on natural resources like water, reduce GHGs, and help to address food insecurity.”
Despite a 19 per cent increase in food production from 2022 to 2024, food businesses have reduced waste, showing that expansion and sustainability can go hand in hand. Furthermore, 76 per cent of food that would have gone to waste was repurposed by 2024, up from 73 per cent in 2022.
This includes redistributing food to charities, upcycling food into new products, or using food scraps for animal feed, contributing to a circular economy in which waste is seen as a resource.
Food insecurity
The Pact’s impact extends beyond reducing waste, helping to address food insecurity across Australia. Over the past three years, 254 million meals have been donated to food rescue organisations, providing nourishment to vulnerable communities. A noteworthy example comes from Simon George & Sons, a premium fruit and vegetable wholesaler, which partnered with FareShare, a food charity.
This collaboration successfully diverted 20 tonnes of fresh produce, helping create 50,000 nutritious meals for people facing hardship. Emily Eastman, chief of staff at Simon George & Sons, said, “End Food Waste Australia’s expertise and extensive network have made this all possible and we can’t wait to see what is next.”
The commitment to food donations has become a central focus of the Pact, demonstrating that businesses can reduce waste while also addressing hunger.
The Pact’s environmental achievements are equally important. By reducing food waste, Pact signatories have saved an estimated 505,000 tonnes of CO2-equivalent emissions—the equivalent of removing 210,000 cars from the road for a year.
In addition to cutting emissions, this reduction also conserves vital resources like water and arable land.
The Pact’s signatories are increasingly aligning with the Food Waste Hierarchy, which prioritises waste prevention, repurposing, and recycling over landfill disposal. In 2024, 100 per cent of signatories adhered to the Food Waste Hierarchy, up from 67 per cent in 2022.
This shift is key to improving resource efficiency and minimising environmental impact.
Food waste solutions
The success of the Pact is also evident in the innovative solutions being developed by businesses. For example, Nutri V repurposes vegetable waste by turning it into powders and snacks, providing new revenue opportunities for farmers. Nutri V’s approach is one of many creative ways companies are reducing food waste while generating new value.
Partnerships, such as the collaboration between Coles, Nutri V, and Fresh Select to convert waste products into vegetable snacks, highlight the growing industry commitment to sustainability.
Industry commitment
The Pact is driving a cultural shift within the food industry, with 78 per cent of signatories now having an executive responsible for food waste reduction, up from 44 per cent in 2022.
This shift reflects the increasing recognition that food waste is a critical issue requiring top-level leadership. In addition, 89 per cent of signatories provide employee training on food waste minimisation, an increase from 67 per cent in 2022.
Empowering staff at all levels to take responsibility for waste reduction is helping create a culture of sustainability that extends beyond corporate headquarters into everyday operations. As the Pact continues to grow, it is gaining momentum within the broader food industry.
ALDI joined the Pact in 2025, expanding its reach to cover 83 per cent of Australia’s supermarket sector. However, more work remains to be done, particularly in securing continued government support, funding, and policy changes to meet national food waste reduction targets by 2030.
The Australian Food Pact’s success is a testament to the power of collaboration in addressing sustainability challenges. By continuing to expand its network and fostering innovation, the Pact has the potential to reduce food waste on a national scale.
With more businesses, government agencies, and non-profits joining the effort, the future of the food industry looks less wasteful and more sustainable. The Pact demonstrates that through collaboration, businesses, government, and non-profit organisations can drive meaningful change, reduce food waste, and build a more sustainable future for all.