New figures reveal that more than 191,000 tonnes of surplus food were redistributed across the UK last year, providing a vital supply of meals to charities, community groups and households struggling with rising living costs. While campaigners have welcomed the increase, they warn that far greater volumes of edible food are still slipping through the cracks of the supply chain.
The latest data, published by leading redistribution organisations, shows that supermarkets, manufacturers and hospitality businesses have all expanded their efforts to divert usable food away from bins. The material recovered includes everything from short-dated produce to incorrectly labelled items and goods affected by cosmetic imperfections. In many cases, the food is perfectly safe but would previously have been discarded due to logistical or commercial constraints.
Despite the progress, experts estimate that millions of tonnes of edible food continue to be wasted each year. Some of this loss occurs before products even reach supermarket shelves, with farms forced to leave crops unharvested or reject produce that fails to meet retail specifications. Elsewhere, food is discarded during transport, storage or packaging – issues that campaigners say highlight structural inefficiencies that urgently need addressing.
Environmental groups stress that the impact goes far beyond the waste of resources. Food waste is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, both through the carbon footprint of production and the methane released when food decomposes in landfill. Reducing waste, they argue, is one of the most immediate and cost-effective ways to cut the UK’s overall environmental impact.
At the same time, demand for redistributed food continues to rise. Charities report that more families, older people and working households are turning to food support services as budgets tighten. Redistribution networks say that while they welcome the growing supply, the scale of need highlights the importance of tackling waste at its source rather than relying on surplus as a long-term solution.
Industry groups are calling for clearer national guidance, improved data sharing and stronger collaboration between farmers, manufacturers, retailers and logistics providers. Many argue that mandatory reporting on food waste levels – currently voluntary for most businesses – would be a key step in identifying where losses occur and how they can be prevented.
With the UK aiming to halve food waste by 2030, pressure is mounting on policy-makers and industry leaders to accelerate action. The latest figures show progress is possible, but also underscore the vast opportunities still being missed.
At Affordable Waste Management, we remain focused on helping businesses navigate evolving environmental expectations and strengthen the sustainability of their waste operations. Across the UK, we support organisations in managing their commercial waste collection and commercial waste disposal responsibly, efficiently and in full compliance with all current regulations.
