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Global environmental NGO WRAP has partnered with the International Food Waste Coalition (IFWC) to establish WRAP EU. This new organisation is set to spearhead efforts in transforming food systems and addressing unsustainable practices across the European Union.

WRAP EU will initially concentrate on mitigating food waste within the hospitality and food service sectors, extending its influence throughout the broader value chain.

This initiative comes at a critical time when the food service sector is responsible for an estimated €35 billion in food waste, accounting for about 11% of total food waste in Europe, according to Eurostat.

The official launch of WRAP EU occurred during a meeting of IFWC programme members in Paris, attended by key figures including WRAP CEO Harriet Lamb and IFWC president Didier Sandoz. The partnership aims to leverage the expertise and resources of both organisations to achieve a collective goal of reducing food waste by 50% by 2030.

Lamb commented: “Tackling climate change requires global collaboration and nurturing roots in the EU allows WRAP to influence, inform and invest in key programmes that will bring circular living into every boardroom and every home".

She continued: "WRAP has a strong track record collaborating with partners to tackle food waste across the EU, as does IFWC – so this is a perfect teaming-up to increase our collective impact. I am delighted to once again have WRAP firmly on the EU map.”

Her sentiments were echoed by Sandoz: “We are thrilled to join forces with WRAP and forge ahead with our work tackling food waste and loss. WRAP EU will allow this to flourish and grow. We can increase the impact we have through this partnership and reduce emissions linked to food waste across the continent, as part of the global push to halve food waste.”

The formation of WRAP EU is expected to bolster existing initiatives, with members already reporting a 25% reduction in food waste across 5,000 sites. These members represent approximately 60% of the EU contract catering market and 15% of the hotel sector, indicating a substantial potential for impact.

As part of its strategy, WRAP EU will implement a common methodology tailored to the hospitality and food service industries, aligned with international standards. This approach is crucial for engaging members in food waste reporting processes, with many already involved in tracking and reducing waste.

Prominent members of the IFWC, such as Sodexo and Accor, have expressed their commitment to the initiative. Mouna Fassi Daoudi, chief sustainability officer at Sodexo, highlighted that this partnership represents a significant advancement in their ongoing efforts to address food waste.

Similarly, Brune Poirson, Accor's chief sustainability officer, underscored the necessity of radical changes in how food waste is managed, stating, “We need to radicalise how we deal with food waste to have any hope of halving global levels by 2030”.

WRAP EU marks WRAP's third international base, following its operations in Asia-Pacific and the Americas. The organisation aims to connect with the Global Network of Food Pacts to share insights and best practices on effective food waste reduction strategies.

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