Publication

The Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) established the North American Initiative on Food Waste Reduction and Recovery as part of its Économie verte and Changements climatiques portfolios. This report seeks to enhance the North American capacity to reduce disposal of food waste in the industrial, commercial and institutional (ICI) sector. It proposes comprehensive strategies to address source reduction of FLW, and for food rescue and recovery, at all stages of the food supply chain—from postharvest food production, processing and distribution, to consumer-facing foodservice and retail sectors. Following an analysis of the current state, causes and impacts of FLW in North America, this report identifies opportunities to reduce FLW through source reduction, and food rescue or recovery of surplus food. Estimates of FLW quantities, along with associated environmental and socio-economic impacts, are also provided. The analysis, oportunities and suggestions presented in this report are a useful reference for the ICI sector, governments, and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) as they develop policies, strategies and initiatives to address FLW in North America.