China unites to enhance awareness against food waste

Professionals from the business community, science institutions, non-governmental organizations and international organizations gathered in Beijing Thursday for the Food Waste Reduction-Action in China forum, to advocate green consumption awareness and reduction in food waste.

To make sustainable consumption a supportive force in the era of new consumption, Pei Liang, head of the China Chain Store Franchise Association, said that the association managed to establish cross-border cooperation platforms to connect all parties concerned. The CCFA also aims to provide consumers with healthier and lower-carbon products and services, as well as improve food waste utilization.

"The Swedish government also has taken a series of national actions focusing on the supply chain and changing consumer behavior, and the business sector is making very important contributions to promoting a sustainable consumption and lifestyle, but we also need cooperation, and we encourage cooperation between different sectors," said Anna Lindstedt, Sweden's ambassador to China.

From currently available data, global food waste is equivalent to enough food for 2 billion people, Switzerland's GDP level, according to Vincent Martin, chief representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

To share the common goal of reducing food waste under the UN Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, global food waste per capita in the retail and consumer sectors will be halved, reducing food losses in production and supply. The household appliance industry has made efforts in providing household appliances with energy conservation, spoke Qu Zongfeng, vice-president of the China Household Electrical Appliances Research Institute.

To connect all under the forum, Gao Si, head of the China branch of the IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute, said the institute plans to introduce advanced technologies, methods and tools on food waste reduction and provide more convenience for stakeholders to connect directly to the food waste reduction network in Asia, and even in Europe.

The forum was co-organized by the China Chain Store Franchise Association, China Household Electrical Appliances Research Institute and IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute, with special support by the Enterprise Social Responsibility Center of the Swedish embassy.