WRAP EU will focus on tackling food waste across the hospitality, food service sector and more widely along the value chain. The organisation will then expand to focus on sustainable fashion and plastic pollution.
Currently, the food service sector generates food waste worth more than €35bn, 11% of the total food waste in Europe according to Eurostat. Members of the IFWC are working to achieve a 50% reduction by 2030, with at least half of members’ sites already engaged in the food waste reporting process.
The EU is WRAP’s third base outside the UK, alongside WRAP Asia-Pacific in Australia and WRAP in the Americas based in Washington D.C.
Harriet Lamb, chief executive of WRAP, said: “Tackling climate change requires global collaboration and nurturing roots in the EU allows WRAP to influence, inform and invest in key programmes that will bring circular living into every boardroom and every home.
“WRAP has a strong track record collaborating with partners to tackle food waste across the EU, as does IFWC – so this is a perfect teaming-up to increase our collective impact. I am delighted to once again have WRAP firmly on the EU map.”
The official launch of WRAP EU took place at a special meeting of the IFWC programme members in Paris last week. Members include Compass Group, Elior, Sodexo, Kitro and Louvre Hotels Group.
Mouna Fassi Daoudi, chief sustainability officer at Sodexo, added: "As a founding member of the IFWC, Sodexo is proud to partner with WRAP EU. Reducing food waste and loss remains a cornerstone of our commitment to the food transition. This partnership is a game changer for advancing food waste reduction, benefiting both the environment and the economy.”