Brought to you by Woolworths

The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) did a study on food losses and waste in South Africa and found that 10.3-million tonnes a year of edible food gets wasted.  On 16 October we marked World Food Day and Woolworths reflected on the fundamental need for everyone, everywhere, to have regular access to sufficient and nutritious food.

The United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)’s theme this year, ‘Leave NO ONE Behind,’ speaks to this. It highlights how the ongoing pandemic, climate change, rising inflation and increasing pressure on customers’ wallets are affecting global food security.

The CSIR study further reveals that within the food chain, 68% of waste happens in the early stages of production, with 19% happening during post-harvest handling and storage, and 49% occurring during processing and packaging. Half the overall loss and waste comes from cereals, followed by fruit and vegetables at 19%, milk at 14% and meat at 9%.

The statistics help quantify the problems. However, they essentially magnify South Africa’s predicament: millions of tonnes of edible food does not reach people’s stomachs every year, in a country that struggles with food insecurity at household level and the threat of food hunger.

Focused with quality and sustainability, Woolworths believes food security is a fundamental human right. The retailer is aligned with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 2 of #ZeroHunger by 2030.

It is also a founder signatory of the Consumer Goods Council of South Africa’s Food Loss and Waste Voluntary Agreement, which pushes for a sustainable commitment from local food manufacturers, distributors and retailers to reduce food waste going to landfill by 50% by 2030.

“46 Woolies food suppliers have signed up for the voluntary agreement and are committed to reducing food waste within their operations. 26 of these are our top suppliers which equates to nearly to 60% of our Woolies food production,” says Latiefa Behardien, Woolworths Foods Chief Technology and Sustainability Officer.To ensure that food is not wasted, Woolworths gives surplus food to charity. Edible food, i.e. food that is still within its “use by” date and fit for human consumption.

In the last year, over R786 million worth of surplus food was donated directly from Woolworths stores to over 1400 charitable organisations across the country.

The retailer also partners with FoodForward SA and provides funding to support its vision to recover edible surplus food and distribute it to community organisations in both urban and rural areas. Since 2018, Woolworths’ partnership with FoodForward SA has been successful in facilitating the donation of 6 million meals to vulnerable communities.

FoodForward SA recovers edible surplus food at various stages of the food value chain and redistributes it to communities in need across the country. Woolworths actively encourages its food suppliers to redirect their food surplus to any charities of choice in their community. The retailer has also rolled out the FoodShare digital technology platform developed by FoodForward SA, to all of its stores. The platform virtually connects beneficiary organisations to retail stores and food outlets for the regular collection and reporting of surplus food donated. It also gives Woolworths’ surplus food beneficiary organisations the opportunity of working directly with FoodForward SA and allows them potential access to additional food supplies in FoodForward SA’s network.

While Woolworths’ surplus food donations and partnership with FoodForward SA supports those who need food today, the retailer also supports people to move beyond donations and to grow their own food either to consume or to sell to generate an income. Over the last year alone, Woolworths donated over R6 million to organisations in South Africa that empower communities to grow more food and improve food security.