Businesses' views sought to help shape new global standard for cutting food waste

Posted 19 February

Researchers at Harper Adams University are asking food businesses for their thoughts on a new global standard aimed at cutting food waste.

The ISO 20001 standard – currently in its final stage of development - will set a global benchmark for managing food loss and waste (FLW) from farm to fork.

Public enquiry into the standard closed in December, but working alongside researchers at Harper Adams University, the BSI is seeking additional informal industry feedback – which will shape the discussions at its technical committee next month.

Dr Iona Huang, Reader at Harper Adams University, will be joining the Committee as they deliberate and presenting this feedback to help inform their discussions.

She emphasised the need for broad, real-world input, and said: “The new standard will guide everything related to food loss and waste minimisation throughout the food supply chain.

“That’s why the voices of businesses of all sizes across the industry are so important – whether they are growers or transporters, whether they sell food fresh or cooked, whether they process or redistribute food.

“To ensure this standard genuinely works for businesses, we need to accurately reflect their views – and that’s why we’re asking them to help shape this groundbreaking new standard.”

To take part in this informal consultation, interested businesses can:

• Complete a 10-minute survey to share their context of FLW management and
• Opt-in to provide specific, technical feedback on the draft (DIS) standard at the end of the survey.

To complete the survey, please visit: harper.ac.uk/foodwastestandard