Turning Food Waste Into Value: The CGF and Capgemini Release New Blueprint

Food waste represents a significant environmental, social, and economic crisis. Annually, approximately one-third of all food produced – around 1.3 billion tonnes – is lost, costing the global economy $940 billion. This waste generates 3.3 billion tonnes of greenhouse gases each year, ranking its carbon footprint as the third largest globally, after China and the US. The environmental impact is significant, contributing 25 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions annually.

The blueprint outlines a two-pronged approach: preventing waste through smarter production, planning, and consumption, and valorising unavoidable waste by transforming it into new products and markets. It also provides a three-stage playbook for organisations to accelerate action, from setting solid foundations to tackling hard-to-reduce waste through collaboration and consumer engagement. The best-practice examples featured in the paper, shaped by qualitative interviews with CGF members including Kraft Heinz, Bel Group, Tesco, Loblaw, and Walmart, demonstrate the scale of impact that is already achievable, with member initiatives averaging around 6.9 kg of food waste per tonne handled, and targeted interventions delivering double-digit reductions in waste, significant cost savings and avoided emissions.

This publication is part of the CGF Food Waste Coalition’s ongoing efforts to unite retailers, manufacturers, and partners in driving systemic change across the food value chain. The blueprint also includes a gap assessment tool to help organisations benchmark their progress and scale their impact.

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