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Sustainable Food 2024

Ireland’s commitment to reducing food waste and driving sector sustainability

Young female employee in sorting factory for agricultural products working in warehouse of vegetables, checking and packing organic cauliflowers into plastic boxes
Young female employee in sorting factory for agricultural products working in warehouse of vegetables, checking and packing organic cauliflowers into plastic boxes

Rian Morris

Environmental Sustainability Executive, Food Drink Ireland, Ibec

Food waste in Ireland spans from farms to homes, affecting the environment, economy and food security, highlighting the need for comprehensive solutions across complex supply chains.


Recognising the urgent need for action, Irish food and drink manufacturers are focused on identifying practical measures to drive more sustainable patterns of production and consumption.

Global food waste impact

Recent UN figures indicate that, globally, almost a third of all food goes to waste. In Ireland, this amounts to around 1.27 million tonnes of food annually, which adds the equivalent of 3.6 million tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere. It can also contribute to issues with water quality and biodiversity. In addition to the environmental cost, food waste leaves both producers and consumers out of pocket, with vital resources being squandered and hard-earned money effectively being thrown away.

Embracing sustainable food practices

As individuals, we all have a part to play. However, our food and drink manufacturers, alongside the retail sector, have a unique role in shaping a more sustainable food ecosystem. Food Drink Ireland (FDI) member companies are embracing this by utilising crop by-products to power farms with clean energy, introducing operational efficiencies in processing plants and investing in new technologies to extend the shelf-life of foods.

Globally, almost a third
of all food goes to waste.

Collaborative approach to zero-waste

However, many challenges remain for food and drink producers in driving towards Ireland’s vision of a zero-waste, circular economy. As a key step, FDI is committed to supporting the Government’s Food Waste Charter, a cross-industry pledge for companies to reduce their waste. We aim to encourage increasing participation in the scheme among our 150 member companies and facilitate knowledge sharing of best practices within the sector.

We also collaborate with social enterprises that offer innovative approaches to tackling food waste. These include services finding alternative customers for food that would otherwise go to waste and labelling schemes that help consumers avoid discarding edible food.

FDI urges companies to explore all available options together with suppliers, customers and third-party support. The food system is complex, but through collaboration, we can protect natural resources and create more value for communities by ensuring nothing goes to waste.

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