Position Paper
Food & Drink
HOTREC is actively addressing the issue of food waste, by encouraging and helping its members to decrease food waste. On 5th July 2023, the Commission published a proposal to revise the Waste Framework Directive. It introduces binding food waste reduction targets, choosing 2020 as a baseline to set targets and put one joint target for different stages of the food supply chain. The hospitality industry has always taken its societal responsibility seriously on the matter and is acting to reduce food waste. Although HOTREC agrees with an integrated food systems approach, it questions the methodology considered as well as (i) the baseline to set targets, (ii) the same target for all Member States, (iii) the mandatory level of reduction, (iv) the method of measuring food waste. To be effective, HOTREC calls for proportionate food waste prevention strategies at national level considering the impact on SMEs and micro enterprises in hospitality. Tailoring actions to the specific actor involved will be crucial and, considering that the reduction of food waste is expected to reduce demand for food, HOTREC urges careful consideration of the effects on micro-enterprises and SMEs. HOTREC will continue working closely with the EU and its members to identify inefficiencies within in hospitality sector and prevent food waste from occurring in the first place.
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