Sweden proposes requiring stores and restaurants to help cut food waste

The EU sets requirements for reducing food waste in a directive. The Swedish Food Agency, the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency and the Swedish Board of Agriculture have therefore submitted proposals to the government on how Sweden should meet the requirements.

Today, 81 kilograms of bread, meat, vegetables and leftovers are thrown away per person each year in Sweden. Most of this is thrown away in households, with the rest going to waste in shops, restaurants, hospitals, care homes and schools.

Food waste needs to be reduced to 63 kilograms per person by 2030 if Sweden is to meet the requirements.

Helping customers

The three authorities are therefore proposing that grocery stores, restaurants and businesses serving meals to the public should be obliged to help their customers and guests waste less food. Today, providing such information is voluntary.

Companies can choose how they want to provide information, for example in a customer magazine or on the menu. This could include information about the possibility of taking home food you can't eat, or tips on lowering the temperature in the refrigerator, says Karin Fritz, a food waste expert at the Swedish Food Agency.

Everyone who handles food should also be obliged to prevent food waste. This could involve selling fruit and vegetables loose rather than in plastic trays, or offering serving portions in different sizes.

In our dialogue with the food industry, they themselves have suggested different portion sizes, says Karin Fritz.

Donations without requirements

There is already a great deal of interest in the industry in reducing food waste. For example, food is donated to food banks and the prices of goods with a short shelf life are reduced. However, the authorities are not proposing any requirements for donations or price reductions - they say companies and businesses are best placed to decide for themselves how to reduce waste.

The authorities are, however, proposing an industry forum to exchange experiences.

There will be no new requirements for individual consumers. But food waste must be reduced by 30 percent, and other actors need to help consumers contribute to this goal. Awareness is already there, but stores and producers must help and provide the tools, says Karin Fritz.