© Global Warming Images / WWF

Zero Food Waste Coalition

About / Why the Coalition

In January of 2020, NRDC, WWF, Harvard Food Law Policy Clinic, and ReFED began working together as an informal coalition to engage with and inform policymakers on opportunities to prevent and reduce food loss and waste. Together, we developed and launched the U.S. Food Waste Action Plan, now endorsed by over 60 businesses, nonprofits, and local governments. During this effort, we realized the complementary strengths of our organizations and see a critical opportunity to further advance responsible and ambitious food waste policy.

Our first act as a formal coalition is to lay out priorities for the 2023 Farm Bill. This multi-year legislative package could be one of the most important tools we have to combat food waste—if we do it right. Our priorities include provisions to support food waste research and food waste reduction infrastructure, help implement proven state and local policies that prevent wasted food, and establish and clarify food date labels. You can find the full priorities document here.

The Zero Food Waste Coalition is now a formalization of this partnership started in 2020. Our aim is to continue to build momentum and align on food waste policy, while also amplifying what any single organization could do independently. Our goal is to keep things simple and nimble. We will focus on influencing policy at the local, state, and federal levels, and sharing policy updates and opportunities with partners and stakeholders around the country to bring consumers, businesses, and government together to make food loss and waste history.

Founding Supporters

Harvard Law School Food Law and Policy Clinic
NRDC
ReFED
World Wildlife Fund

 
 

The Harvard Law School Food Law and Policy Clinic (FLPC) serves partner organizations and communities by providing guidance on cutting-edge food system issues, while engaging law students in the practice of food law and policy. FLPC’s work focuses on increasing access to healthy foods, supporting sustainable production and regional food systems, promoting community-led food system change, and reducing waste of healthy, wholesome food. FLPC is committed to advancing a cross-sector, multi-disciplinary and inclusive approach to its work, building partnerships with academic institutions, government agencies, private sector actors, and civil society with expertise in public health, the environment, and the economy. For more information, visit chlpi.org/flpc and follow us on twitter at @HarvardFLPC.


NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) is an international nonprofit environmental organization with more than 3 million members and online activists. Since 1970, our lawyers, scientists, and other environmental specialists have worked to protect the world's natural resources, public health, and the environment. NRDC has offices in New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Bozeman, and Beijing. Visit us at www.nrdc.org and follow us on Twitter @NRDC.


ReFED is a national nonprofit working to end food loss and waste across the food system by advancing data-driven solutions. We leverage data and insights to highlight supply chain inefficiencies and economic opportunities; mobilize and connect supporters to take targeted action; and catalyze capital to spur innovation and scale high-impact initiatives. Our goal is a sustainable, resilient, and inclusive food system that optimizes environmental resources, minimizes climate impacts, and makes the best use of the food we grow. To learn more about solutions to reduce food waste, please visit www.refed.org.


WWF is one of the world's leading conservation organizations, working in nearly 100 countries for over half a century to help people and nature thrive. With the support of more than 5 million members worldwide, WWF is dedicated to delivering science-based solutions to preserve the diversity and abundance of life on Earth, halt the degradation of the environment and combat the climate crisis. Visit https://www.worldwildlife.org to learn more and keep up with the latest conservation news by following @WWFNews on Twitter and signing up for our newsletter and news alerts here.