An international environmental group suggests that reducing Canadasa国际传媒檚 colossal food waste would be a smart business move and good for the environment.
sa国际传媒淵ou can make a really strong business case for action,sa国际传媒� said David Donaldson of the Commission for Environmental Cooperation, an environmental watchdog agency set up under the North American Free Trade Agreement.
Canada is one of the biggest wasters of food on the planet, says the commissionsa国际传媒檚 report, released late last week. The agency found that from farm to table, 396 kilograms of food annually are wasted or lost per capita.
Thatsa国际传媒檚 compared with 415 kilograms in the United States and 249 kilograms in Mexico.
Food is considered lost when it is spilled or spoiled before it reaches its final destination.
Not only does that waste have an economic cost sa国际传媒� other studies have pegged it at about $30 billion a year sa国际传媒� it creates 21 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions, largely from landfills.
By far the largest part of the waste comes from consumers, says the report. Every Canadian, on average, tosses away 170 kilograms of food a year.
The commissionsa国际传媒檚 recommendations focus on the middle part of the food chain where Canadasa国际传媒檚 groceries are collected, processed, distributed and prepared. Thatsa国际传媒檚 where the economic case is clearest, Donaldson said.
sa国际传媒淵ou can make a business case for it. Companies can improve the way they do business.sa国际传媒�
Restaurants could reduce portions, the report suggests. Bread served at tables could be optional. Buffet serving trays could be shallower to reduce the amount of food on display.
Retailers could sell cosmetically imperfect produce at a discount, as some already do. Expiry date labels could be standardized.
Better tools and techniques to prevent food waste and to make processing and transport more efficient would be a big help, said researcher Tamara Shulman.
sa国际传媒淲e interviewed people from across Canada and everyonesa国际传媒檚 thirsty to get access to information,sa国际传媒� she said.
James Rillet of Restaurants Canada said his industry is well aware of the economic benefits of cutting waste.
sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 money out of their pockets.sa国际传媒�
Rilletsa国际传媒檚 group already runs programs to help restaurateurs plan better to avoid waste. Itsa国际传媒檚 also working with the Ontario government to avoid food waste due to outdated health guidelines.
But he called some of the reportsa国际传媒檚 recommendations simplistic.
sa国际传媒淪ome restaurants are known for their portion sizes,sa国际传媒� he said. sa国际传媒淭heresa国际传媒檚 so many different concepts.
sa国际传媒淐onsumers want what they want.sa国际传媒�
The National Zero Waste Council, which is devoted to cutting waste from the Canadian economy, praised the commissionsa国际传媒檚 report and said it echoed many recommendations it has already made.
sa国际传媒淏est-before dates are low-hanging fruit,sa国际传媒� said Denise Philippe. sa国际传媒淭he dates on our food packaging are all over the map.sa国际传媒�
Too much food gets tossed because consumers and businesses assume a best-before date is a deadline and not a quality benchmark, she said.
sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 not clear to the consumer and sometimes not to businesses that when we say sa国际传媒榖est beforesa国际传媒� wesa国际传媒檙e not talking about a food safety issue.sa国际传媒�
Donaldson said more people are becoming aware of the problem.
The commissionsa国际传媒檚 report was produced at the request of the three NAFTA governments. As well, all three have signed a United Nations pledge to halve food waste and loss by 2030.
A federal strategy is expected this spring.
sa国际传媒淭he issue of food waste, for the last decade, has really come to the forefront,sa国际传媒� Donaldson said.
Canadian Press
