End Food Waste Australia (EFWA) has launched a national membership program aimed at helping businesses across the food supply chain, including manufacturing, reduce waste, recover costs and improve resource efficiency.
Launched on 28 October, the membership program expands EFWA’s existing Australian Food Pact and The Great Unwaste Partner Hub into a single model, opening its research-backed food waste reduction approach to more organisations. The network now includes more than 250 organisations, up from 26 Australian Food Pact signatories.
EFWA said businesses working with the organisation between 2022 and 2024 saved $57 million and reduced food waste by 13 per cent, according to its Australian Food Pact Impact Report 2022–24.
EFWA CEO Wendy Hughes said the new model was developed in response to industry feedback about the need for support suited to businesses at different stages of their food waste reduction efforts.
“Our partners told us they valued the expertise, insights and collaboration End Food Waste Australia offered, and they’ve seen the commercial return that comes from taking food waste seriously,” Hughes said.
She cited Bridge Road Brewers as an example, saying the business reduced food waste in its operations by more than 50 per cent through measurement, menu design and team training.
According to EFWA, food waste costs Australia an estimated $36.6 billion annually, equivalent to 1.4 per cent of gross domestic product. Businesses lose an average of 5.6 per cent of total sales to food waste, the organisation said.
The impact extends across the food supply chain, from agricultural production and manufacturing to retail and hospitality. EFWA said discarded food also represents wasted water, energy, labour and land, while reducing the amount of food available to the broader community.
“When we waste food, we’re wasting the money, resources and effort it took to grow, make and move it. And we’re doing that while millions of Australian households struggle to put food on the table,” Hughes said.
EFWA’s impact reporting also recorded 982,000 tonnes of food repurposed, donations equivalent to 254 million meals and emissions reductions of 505,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent among participating businesses over three years.
The membership program offers two options. Associate Membership is designed for councils, educational institutions, not-for-profits and small businesses, providing access to practical guides, measurement tools and campaign resources. Full Membership offers businesses additional support, including food loss mapping, forecasting, joint business planning and industry working groups.
EFWA said its business support packages align with the ISO food loss and waste standard and the organisation’s Food Waste Maturity Model.
“No single organisation can end food waste alone,” Hughes said. “Membership helps build the collective action needed to change the whole system, so businesses and communities can save money, tap into new revenue streams, reduce their environmental impact and help build a more food-secure Australia.”
Organisations can find membership details at https://www.endfoodwaste.com.au/membership.
