Starbucks joins US Food Waste Pact as second QSR to commit to national initiative

USA – Starbucks has partnered with the US Food Waste Pact, becoming the second quick-service restaurant (QSR) to join the national voluntary agreement.

The US Food Waste Pact, spearheaded by the nonprofit organizations ReFED and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), aims to address food waste in the US by encouraging collaboration and data sharing within the food industry.

Starbucks’ participation in this initiative aligns with its commitment to reducing food waste by 50% by 2030.

ReFED, a key partner of the US Food Waste Pact, estimates that 38% of food produced in the US goes uneaten or unsold, resulting in significant environmental consequences.

This waste contributes to 5.2% of US greenhouse gas emissions, including methane. The total amount of food waste, which exceeds 90 million tonnes, is equivalent to 149 billion meals, valued at US$495 billion annually.

Starbucks’ Chief Social Impact Officer, Kelly Goodejohn, emphasized the company’s long-standing focus on supporting the communities it serves.

She highlighted Starbucks’ innovative approach to reducing food waste, such as its FoodShare program, which donates surplus food from stores to local food banks.

The company also works to strengthen food banks to ensure equitable and sustainable distribution of donations.

By joining the US Food Waste Pact, Starbucks is collaborating with other industry players to improve food waste reduction, not just within the company but across the sector.

Since 2016, Starbucks has diverted over 75 million pounds of food from waste and donated 63 million meals through its FoodShare program.

The program is implemented in all company-owned stores across the US and Canada, and food rescue operations are active in 30 global markets.

Joining the Pact will further enhance these efforts by enabling Starbucks to exchange best practices and benchmarks with other signatories.

Jackie Suggitt, ReFED’s Vice President of Business Initiatives and Community Engagement, described Starbucks’ commitment to the pact as a significant advancement for the quick-service restaurant (QSR) sector.

She praised the company for its leadership, particularly in food donations, and noted that targeting the QSR subsector would amplify efforts to reduce food waste across the entire supply chain.

The US Food Waste Pact is supported by other signatories, including Ahold Delhaize USA, ALDI US, Amazon Fresh, Aramark, and Walmart.

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