Tackling Food Waste in the Grocery Industry: Solutions for a Sustainable Future

The grocery industry is trying hard to cut down on food waste, but it still has a long way to go. Much of this waste comes from the supply chain issues, like overstocking and consumer preferences for perfect-looking produce. Sadly, this leads to edible food being thrown away when it could still be consumed. Meanwhile, over 45 million Americans face hunger every day.

During Hunger Action Month in September, the industry is urged to raise awareness about food insecurity and take steps to help. While some grocery stores have programs for hunger relief and composting, the amount of edible food being wasted remains high. Why? The problem lies deeper than a lack of effort; it’s systemic.

The grocery sector needs a major overhaul. Right now, many chains work in silos, leading to a lack of real-time inventory data that could help identify surplus food for donation before it spoils. Once food passes its expiration date, it’s too late to rescue. Also, relying solely on volunteers for food pickup is inadequate. Local pantries often don’t have the infrastructure to effectively match grocery stores.

Composting efforts are good, but they shouldn’t be the main focus. The priority should be donating as much edible food as possible before considering composting.

Recent data shows that food waste is a massive issue. A study by ReFED found that the food industry wasted 35% of the total food supply in the U.S. each year. Rather than just good intentions, the industry needs coordinated efforts and integrated systems to make a real impact.

For instance, organizations like Sharing Excess recover surplus food from grocery chains regularly, and much of what they receive is still in excellent condition. The waste isn’t due to poor quality; it’s about timing and the lack of proper infrastructure to support food rescue.

The industry needs to treat food rescue as an essential part of operations rather than a side project. Only then can we hope to reduce the staggering amounts of edible food wasted daily.



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Grocery Industry, Food Waste, Hunger Relief, Sharing Excess, Waste Management, Food Rescue