Major Food Retailers Join Food Waste Initiative

A coalition of 10 global food retailers, including Walmart, Kroger and Ahold Delhaize, have signed on to a new initiative to engage their supply chains in the fight against food loss and waste. The new campaign is called “10x20x30,” referring to the 10 retailers engaging 20 of their suppliers to cut food waste in half by 2030. The commitment is in line with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals Target 12.3, which also calls for a 50% reduction in food loss and waste by 2030 worldwide.

The founding partners of 10x20x30 are Aeon, Ahold Delhaize, Ikea Food, Kroger, Metro AG, Pick n Pay, The Savola Group, Sodexo, Tesco and Walmart. The companies together operate in more than 80 countries worldwide.

“Food loss and waste is a massive global challenge. While addressing this challenge is a priority for us, 10x20x30 is built on the fact that no one company can address this challenge alone,” said Laura Phillips, SVP of Sustainability for Walmart, Bentonville, Ark. “With 10x20x30, retailers work to reduce in-store food loss and waste, as well as support their upstream suppliers to reduce their own loss and waste.”

10x20x30 was publicly announced at the annual food loss and waste event hosted by Champions 12.3, a voluntary coalition of executives from business, government and civil society committed to raising ambition and motivating action to achieve sustainability goals. 

“The latest research from Champions 12.3 is clear: We need to see more companies targeting, measuring and acting on food waste and publishing food waste data if the world is to deliver Sustainable Development Goal 12.3 and halve food waste by 2030,” said Dave Lewis, chair of Champions 12.3 and group chief executive of United Kingdom-based Tesco. “10x20x30 is a clear opportunity for companies to work in partnership with hundreds of food suppliers to tackle food waste from farm to fork.”

The coalition said one-third of food is lost or wasted worldwide, resulting in significant economic, environmental and food security impacts. Food loss and waste accounts for $940 billion annually and is responsible for 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions. 

Recent research from World Resources Institute and partners identified the need for a private sector effort where food retailers and food providers work with their suppliers on food loss and waste as a way to scale private sector action to help the world ultimately achieve the 50% reduction target.

“This is the next critical step in scaling our industry ambitions to reduce food waste around the globe,” said Frans Muller, president and CEO of Ahold Delhaize, Zaandam, Netherlands. "The social, environmental and economical business case to reduce food waste is evident, so I strongly believe this initiative will be very successful and instigate forthcoming initiatives.”