CGF Food Waste Coalition and OECD FCAN Share Ambition to Strengthen FLW Reporting and Action

The workshop went beyond a technical exchange, highlighting strong alignment between private-sector actors and public experts on the key structural levers needed to accelerate concrete action on food loss and waste (FLW). Bringing together businesses and policymakers, the dialogue confirmed a shared conviction: measurement and reporting are essential tools to drive effective reduction strategies across food systems.

A Shared Vision for Action-Oriented Measurement

The workshop opened a direct and constructive public–private dialogue on the challenges of monitoring and reporting FLW. Discussions revealed that both businesses and policymakers  face similar challenges, notably fragmented methodologies and limited comparability. 

Participants aligned around a shared vision: robust measurement frameworks are needed not for compliance purposes alone, but to inform decisions, guide investment, and support effective reduction strategies across all stages of the agri-food value chain.

Harmonised and Pragmatic KPIs as a Lever for Collective Progress

A key area of alignment was the need for  harmonised, pragmatic and actionable reporting frameworks and KPIs. Participants acknowledged that inconsistent indicators currently limit comparability and slow collective progress. 

Rather than viewing benchmarking as a simple comparison exercise, discussions emphasised its potential as a driver of collective learning, transparency and faster action — provided KPIs remain operationally feasible for companies and aligned with national and international monitoring systems.

Moving Beyond Volumes: Valuing the Full Impact of Prevention

Participants also agreed on the importance of moving beyond a focus on volumes alone. Discussions highlighted the need to better capture and communicate the environmental, social and economic value of prevention, to reflect the full impact of saved food across the value chain. 

Creating a broader ‘food value framework’ was identified as a key lever to strengthen the business and policy case for prevention, mobilise resources and better connect food waste reduction actions with economic, sustainability and food security objectives.

From Reporting to Reduction: Turning Data into Impact

Throughout the workshop, a clear message emerged: better data should lead to better decisions. 

Strengthening monitoring and reporting systems is essential, but only if they support targeted, effective and scalable solutions to reduce FLW. Data must remain pragmatic and usable, helping justify action, guide decision-making and track progress over time, rather than creating unnecessary complexity.

“At Bel, we see data as a lever for action, not an end in itself. We already track FLW across our operations, translate it into CO₂ emissions to link it directly with our Group climate commitments, and rely on a detailed action plan with projected impacts to drive progress towards our reduction targets. What was particularly valuable in this dialogue with OECD FCAN experts was the shared recognition that fragmented methodologies limit collective impact. Simplifying and harmonizing reporting frameworks is essential if we want data to truly support decision-making and accelerate FLW reduction at scale.” said, Annabelle Souchon, Global Circular Economy Lead, Bel Group, and Co-Chair of the Food Waste Coalition, The Consumer Goods Forum

“OECD countries are committed to cutting FLW, but many still struggle to design targeted, effective FLW reduction strategies. Too often, FLW isn’t monitored across all stages of the agri-food value chain, and FLW reduction strategies aren’t evaluated. That’s why the CGF–FCAN workshop was so valuable: it brought public and private actors together to tackle FLW reporting challenges and to look at the environmental, social, and economic impacts of FLW. Strengthening our metrics is essential — better data can drive better decisions and ultimately help shift behaviours among households and across food systems stakeholders.” said Céline Giner, Food Systems Lead, OECD

Laying the Groundwork for Continued Public–Private Collaboration

The workshop identified opportunities to better align company-level reporting with country-level frameworks, and the Food Waste Coalition Steering Committee looks forward to continued collaboration with OECD FCAN to turn shared ambition into tangible reductions in FLW.

Learn More

For more information on how CGF’s Food Waste Coalition is uniting businesses to combat food loss and waste, visit www.tcgffoodwaste.com.