Measurement

The first step in reducing food waste is understanding how much food waste you are currently producing, where it is occurring, and the key contributors to this waste. This will enable you to make data informed decisions about where best to focus your food waste reduction efforts. It will also provide you with baseline data for you to track progress. The most common way to gather this information is by completing a food waste audit.

Conduct a Food Waste Audit

Download the audit guide to help you plan and conduct your first food waste audit.

Use your food waste audit data to determine where your food waste hotspots are. Let this information help guide your food waste reduction target, and intervention selection(s).

Recommendation: Share food waste audit results with staff.

While measurement is a crucial aspect of understanding food waste, data alone is not enough. Good communication and teamwork are essential. By sharing weekly food waste data, staff stay engaged, can see the results of their efforts and can collaborate on solutions to challenges. When everyone is informed and involved, reducing food waste becomes easier and more effective.