When food is wasted, so are all the energy and resources that went into producing it. In order to reduce global warming, we must reduce our waste.
By Corporate Governance and Responsible Investment Team, RBC GAM
Globally, there is growing consensus that further action is required to address food loss and waste. Approximately US$1 trillion of food is either lost or wasted annually – an amount that accounts for nearly one-third of the world’s food. According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), ending food waste would preserve enough food to feed two billion people. That’s more than twice the number of undernourished people in the world.
When food is wasted, so are all the energy and resources that went into producing it. This includes processing, packaging, cooling, storing, and transporting costs. Reducing food waste is thus one of the most important things we can do to reverse global warming.
Research conducted by Project Drawdown ranked cutting down on food waste third on its list of solutions to climate change. Cutting back food waste represents one of the greatest opportunities for individuals, companies, and communities to help reverse global warming. It also has the potential to feed more people, increase economic benefits, and preserve threatened ecosystems.
The negative environmental effects are just part of the problem. Consumers are also becoming increasingly concerned about companies’ efforts to solve the global problem of food waste. A company’s mismanagement of this issue could cause reputational damage. Both of these issues could ultimately translate into financial losses for companies.
The Sustainability Accounting Standards Board cites food waste as a material issue impacting food retailers’ and distributors’ performance. The Board recommends that companies do the following:
In setting out its SDGs, the United Nations stated: “The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015, provides a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future. At its heart are the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are an urgent call for action by all countries – developed and developing – in a global partnership.”
The 12th SDG seeks to “ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.” Under this goal, SDG 12.3 calls for halving per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels and reducing food losses, including post-harvest losses, along supply chains by 2030.
Here’s how the world’s 50 largest food companies have responded:
Reducing food loss and waste is an important strategy to help meet the UN SDGs by 2030, contribute to the Paris Agreement on climate change, and sustainably feed the planet by 2050.
Several U.S. grocery and supermarket chains, including Ahold Delhaize, Kroger, Sprout Farmers Market, Walmart, Wegmans, and Weis Markets are part of the 2030 Champions, a coalition launched by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that comprises U.S. businesses committed to meeting a national food loss and waste reduction target of 50 percent by 2030.
Meanwhile, in Canada, eight leading companies have committed to take measurable action to prevent and reduce food waste in their own operations by 50 percent by 2025 relative to a 2016 baseline. In the UK, more than 100 signatories–including all major UK food retailers and food service companies – have committed to work together in order to reduce the environmental impact of food waste and loss as part of the Courtauld 2025 agreement. Additionally, to support achievement of the SDG 12.3 global target and maximize the contribution of all actors in the Eurozone, the EU Platform on Food Losses and Food Waste was established in 2016, bringing together EU institutions, experts from the EU countries and relevant stakeholders.
Food waste is a product of inefficiencies throughout the food supply chain. There are ways for everyone, from producers to distributors and consumers, to help mitigate the problem. Food retailers and distributors in particular are in a unique position to significantly address the problem. For example, they can educate consumers on the impacts of food waste, and can also sell cosmetically defective food at a discount.
Alternatively, some firms in Japan are exploring the use of technology and data to reduce food waste produced at source. For instance, knowing that customer demand and product sales are impacted by temperature forecasts, one Japanese company, Sagamiya Foods, uses weather data to help determine the amount of food it should produce to meet forecasted demand. Deployed successfully, this approach would reduce surplus food being produced at the top of the supply chain, and also save companies money. For Sagamiya Foods, the company expects that this new approach will save them 10 million yen in annual costs.
All these actions can add up over time. The clock is ticking around the globe in the countdown to the United Nations’ 2030 goals.
In 2018, Royal Caribbean Cruises, the second-largest cruise company in the world, agreed to make its food waste management and reduction strategies more public after a shareholder proposal was filed (and later withdrawn by the proponent) at the company’s annual meeting. In 2019, RBC Global Asset Management (RBC GAM) encountered two shareholder proposals asking companies to report on management of food waste. RBC GAM evaluates such proposals on a case- by-case basis, and will generally support proposals related to enhanced disclosure in an area that represents a real risk or opportunity for the company. In the case of the two proposals RBC GAM saw in 2019, it was determined that both warranted support as they were calling for additional disclosure on a material risk faced by RBC GAM’s investee companies.
This document is provided by RBC Global Asset Management (RBC GAM) for informational purposes only and may not be reproduced, distributed or published without the written consent of RBC GAM or its affiliated entities listed herein. This document does not constitute an offer or a solicitation to buy or to sell any security, product or service in any jurisdiction. This document is not available for distribution to people in jurisdictions where such distribution would be prohibited.
RBC GAM is the asset management division of Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) which includes RBC Global Asset Management Inc., RBC Global Asset Management (U.S.) Inc., RBC Global Asset Management (UK) Limited, RBC Global Asset Management (Asia) Limited, and BlueBay Asset Management LLP, which are separate, but affiliated subsidiaries of RBC.
In Canada, this document is provided by RBC Global Asset Management Inc. (including PH&N Institutional) which is regulated by each provincial and territorial securities commission with which it is registered. In the United States, this document is provided by RBC Global Asset Management (U.S.) Inc., a federally registered investment adviser. In Europethis document is provided by RBC Global Asset Management (UK) Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the UK Financial Conduct Authority. In Asia, this document is provided by RBC Global Asset Management (Asia) Limited, which is registered with the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) in Hong Kong.
This document has not been reviewed by, and is not registered with any securities or other regulatory authority, and may, where appropriate, be distributed by the above-listed entities in their respective jurisdictions. Additional information about RBC GAM may be found at www.rbcgam.com.
This document is not intended to provide legal, accounting, tax, investment, financial or other advice and such information should not be relied upon for providing such advice. RBC GAM takes reasonable steps to provide up-to-date, accurate and reliable information, and believes the information to be so when printed. RBC GAM reserves the right at any time and without notice to change, amend or cease publication of the information.
Any investment and economic outlook information contained in this document has been compiled by RBC GAM from various sources. Information obtained from third parties is believed to be reliable, but no representation or warranty, express or implied, is made by RBC GAM, its affiliates or any other person as to its accuracy, completeness or correctness. RBC GAM and its affiliates assume no responsibility for any errors or omissions.
Past performance is not indicative of future results. With all investments there is a risk of loss of all or a portion of the amount invested. Where return estimates are shown, these are provided for illustrative purposes only and should not be construed as a prediction of returns; actual returns may be higher or lower than those shown and may vary substantially, especially over shorter time periods. It is not possible to invest directly in an index.
Some of the statements contained in this document may be considered forward-looking statements which provide current expectations or forecasts of future results or events. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance or events and involve risks and uncertainties. Do not place undue reliance on these statements because actual results or events may differ materially from those described in such forward-looking statements as a result of various factors. Before making any investment decisions, we encourage you to consider all relevant factors carefully.
The material herein is for informational purposes only and is not directed at, nor intended for distribution to or use by, any person or entity in any country where such distribution or use would be contrary to law or regulation or which would subject Royal Bank of Canada or its subsidiaries or constituent business units (including RBC Wealth Management) to any licensing or registration requirement within such country.
This is not intended to be either a specific offer by any Royal Bank of Canada entity to sell or provide, or a specific invitation to apply for, any particular financial account, product or service. Royal Bank of Canada does not offer accounts, products or services in jurisdictions where it is not permitted to do so, and therefore the RBC Wealth Management business is not available in all countries or markets.
The information contained herein is general in nature and is not intended, and should not be construed, as professional advice or opinion provided to the user, nor as a recommendation of any particular approach. Nothing in this material constitutes legal, accounting or tax advice and you are advised to seek independent legal, tax and accounting advice prior to acting upon anything contained in this material. Interest rates, market conditions, tax and legal rules and other important factors which will be pertinent to your circumstances are subject to change. This material does not purport to be a complete statement of the approaches or steps that may be appropriate for the user, does not take into account the user’s specific investment objectives or risk tolerance and is not intended to be an invitation to effect a securities transaction or to otherwise participate in any investment service.
To the full extent permitted by law neither RBC Wealth Management nor any of its affiliates, nor any other person, accepts any liability whatsoever for any direct or consequential loss arising from any use of this document or the information contained herein. No matter contained in this material may be reproduced or copied by any means without the prior consent of RBC Wealth Management. RBC Wealth Management is the global brand name to describe the wealth management business of the Royal Bank of Canada and its affiliates and branches, including, RBC Investment Services (Asia) Limited, Royal Bank of Canada, Hong Kong Branch, and the Royal Bank of Canada, Singapore Branch. Additional information available upon request.
Royal Bank of Canada is duly established under the Bank Act (Canada), which provides limited liability for shareholders.
® Registered trademark of Royal Bank of Canada. Used under license. RBC Wealth Management is a registered trademark of Royal Bank of Canada. Used under license. Copyright © Royal Bank of Canada 2024. All rights reserved.
We want to talk about your financial future.