Mandatory food waste reporting in England

That this House notes that UK food waste causes an estimated 36 million tonnes CO2eq in emissions domestically and overseas, costing businesses and citizens approximately £19 billion; further notes that UK on-farm food waste alone is estimated to use an area of agricultural land half the size of Wales and that this land could help sustainably feed the UK and restore nature to mitigate the cost of living and climate crises; recognises that the current lack of voluntary food waste reporting impedes meaningful assessment of food waste levels and progress in food waste reduction; acknowledges that many organisations including WRAP and Tesco have said that mandatory food waste reporting is essential for the UK to halve food waste by 2030 in line with Sustainable Development Goal 12.3; notes that the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee has recommended mandatory food waste reporting; further notes that 99% of responses to the Government’s consultation on improved reporting of food waste supported mandatory food waste reporting for large and medium businesses and that the majority of food business respondents also supported mandatory reporting; and calls on the Government to bring forward legislative proposals for mandatory measurement and public reporting of food waste in 2024 and 2025 respectively for all medium and large-sized food businesses in England, ensuring adequate coverage across and within food sectors including primary production, manufacturing, retail and hospitality and food service.