Our action

We collaborate with businesses, government and partners to develop a food system that nourishes people, benefits communities and safeguards the environment.

oranges

Our approach

Food waste is one of New Zealand’s biggest hidden challenges – but also one of our greatest opportunities. Our approach tackles the problem head-on by making waste visible, driving better management and bringing people together to create lasting change.

The problem

Food waste happens throughout our food system, from farms and factories to shops and homes, but most of it goes unmeasured and unmanaged. Many businesses don’t track their food waste, and our policy settings don’t incentivise and enable change by businesses and consumers.

While other nations focus on preventing waste, feeding people and keeping organic waste out of landfills, we’re falling behind.

The opportunity

New Zealand throws away huge amounts of food every year. This waste creates 4% of our country’s greenhouse gas emissions and makes up 17% of what goes to landfill. Meanwhile, 1 in 4 households struggle to put food on the table.

Reducing food waste is one of the best ways to help businesses save money, ensure everyone has enough to eat and protect our environment by cutting down on harmful methane gas from food in landfills.

Our solution

We’re working to change New Zealand’s food system in three key ways:

  1. Making food waste visible – We’re raising awareness and showing businesses and government why action matters.
  2. Better food waste management – We’re helping businesses measure their waste and learn best practices to reduce it.
  3. Working together – We’re connecting everyone across the food chain to tackle this challenge as a country.

Our work

We work with businesses, government and partners to create a food system that nourishes people, supports communities and protects the environment.

Building awareness

We are focussed on raising awareness of food waste because visibility drives change. By highlighting food waste as a social, economic and climate priority and opportunity, we influence how it is valued and addressed across the food system.

The NZ Business Food Waste Survey is canvassing leading medium and large food businesses about key perceptions and practices in relation to food waste.

Learn more about the survey

We work to elevate food waste as a priority within the policy agenda.

View the Emissions Reduction Plan submission

We support the Office of the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor during the research, development and release of reports on food waste within Aotearoa New Zealand.

View the OPMSCA media release

Activating industry action

Business is a key lever for food systems change. Our work with industry gives them the knowledge and tools to create change within their businesses.

Through the Kai Commitment Programme, a best-practice-led initiative, we work with leading businesses across the New Zealand food value chain.

Learn more about the programme

The Kai Commitment Best-Practice Actions for business are a practical and actionable framework for organisations to assess their gaps and opportunities, providing tools and case studies to guide action.

Learn more about our action

Kai Commitment is part of a global network of organisations tackling food waste. Through our programme and events, we connect businesses so they can benefit from the knowledge and experience from other markets, as well as share their learnings and wins.

View the map

tomatoes

Creating a connected community

We bring businesses, government and experts into a shared space to exchange knowledge, align priorities and accelerate action – building a connected community united around ending food waste.

We are proud to partner with other organisations from across the food waste solution sector who are also committed to creating a fair, equitable and sustainable food system.

See who’s involved

The Food Waste Reduction Ecosystem map showcases current solution providers and enablers, highlighting gaps, opportunities, fostering connections and collaboration as we strive to reduce food waste at a faster pace.

View the Food Waste Reduction Ecosystem map

Mapping drivers of food waste in the bread supply chain not only identified opportunities to reduce food waste within this sector, it also serves as a model for how other sectors can explore the causes of food waste across the value chain.

Read the media release

Our impact

Kai Commitment is helping create change in Aotearoa towards a food system that is more efficient and equitable, that supports and sustains communities and businesses – and is less harmful to the planet and environment.

Economic

Businesses are embedding food waste reduction into strategy, operations and culture.

0%
have food waste KPIs
0%
increase in surplus food redistributed
0%
of causes of waste identified
0%
include food waste in staff training
Environmental

Climate impacts from food waste are reduced.

0%
reduction in food waste to landfill
0%
increase in anaerobic digestion
Social

More food is getting to people who need it.

0M
meals rescued
Systems

Food waste is kept on the government agenda as a solution to food insecurity, climate change and inefficiency.

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organisations collaborating across the system
OUr impact over time

2024 Impact Video

Previous Impact Reports