A Global Problem with Local Impact
Food Loss and Waste (FLW) remain one of the most urgent challenges in building a sustainable global food system. According to the UNEP Food Waste Index Report 2024, more than 1.05 billion tonnes of food were wasted in 2022 alone. This waste occurs across the supply chain—from farms to retail shelves—and contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions, economic loss, and food insecurity.
Recognising the scale of the issue, FSSC has made FLW a formal requirement under its food safety management scheme. Since April 2025, certified organisations are expected to establish an FLW policy, set measurable objectives, and implement controls to safely handle surplus food products.
Understanding the Industry’s Progress
“As Food Loss and Waste (FLW) is an important topic for FSSC, and it is also included as a requirement in our FSSC 22000 Scheme, we would like to gain a better understanding of the status of your FLW journey, the methodologies used, but also the challenges and benefits,” said an FSSC spokesperson.
To that end, the Foundation FSSC has officially launched a global survey aimed at understanding how FSSC 22000 certified organisations are addressing Food Loss and Waste (FLW), a critical and growing concern across the food industry. The survey, open until 15 October 2025, invites certified organisations to share their practices, challenges, and successes in managing FLW, a mandatory focus area in FSSC 22000 Version 6.
The goal is to gather insights that will directly influence the future development of the Scheme and improve its effectiveness in supporting the global transition toward sustainable food systems.
Why Certified Organisations Should Participate
Certified companies are uniquely positioned to contribute to a more sustainable future.
By sharing your experience, your organisation can:
- Help shape future FSSC 22000 guidance and tools
- Benchmark your progress with industry peers
- Highlight success stories in FLW reduction
- Strengthen compliance with Version 6 FLW requirements
- Support global efforts toward achieving UN SDG 12.3: halving food waste by 2030.