The escalating food waste crisis in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region is driving a wave of sustainability initiatives across the food and beverage industry, according to a recent report by GlobalData, a leading data and analytics firm.
Key measures include ethical sourcing, waste reduction, composting programs, and efficient waste management systems. These efforts align with increasing consumer demand for eco-friendly practices. “As awareness around sustainability grows, consumers increasingly prioritize ethical considerations in their purchasing decisions,” noted Shravani Mali, Consumer Analyst at GlobalData.
Governments in the region are also stepping up, with countries like Australia aiming to halve food waste by 2030 and China enforcing the Anti-Food Waste Law to address its municipal waste crisis. These policies highlight the economic, environmental, and social costs of food waste, which remains a critical issue across supply chains.
Tim Hill, Key Account Director for Southeast Asia at GlobalData, emphasized innovative solutions such as using food waste as natural fertilizer and redistributing surplus food through nonprofit collaborations. These strategies aim to minimize waste and maximize resource efficiency.
The report underscores the growing momentum for sustainability within APAC’s food sector as businesses and governments work together to mitigate the environmental impact of food waste.