More than two years after the European Commission first tabled its proposal, the newly revised Waste Framework Directive (WFD) has officially been published. This marks a significant step forward in the EU’s efforts to reduce food loss and waste while strengthening the role of food donation.
Binding Targets for Food Waste Reduction
For the first time, the WFD introduces legally binding food waste reduction targets to be met by 2030, using 2021–2023 as the baseline:
- 10% reduction of food waste in processing and manufacturing
- 30% per capita reduction across retail, restaurants, food services, and households
These targets set clear expectations for Member States and signal a stronger commitment to tackling food waste across the supply chain.
Reinforcing the Role of Food Donation
The revised Directive explicitly requires Member States to adopt measures that encourage food donation and redistribution as a means of preventing food waste (Article 9a(1)(c)).
In a landmark development, the WFD stipulates that food banks and food redistribution organisations must be consulted to ensure that economic operators put in place food donation agreements with them (Article 9a(1)(da)). This advancement strengthens the donation of safe, unsold food and recognises food banks as essential partners in the food waste reduction process.
FEBA’s Perspective
The European Food Banks Federation (FEBA) warmly welcomes these legislative changes, which:
- Establish concrete, binding targets for reducing food waste
- Strengthen the framework for food donation, affirming it as the second tier in the food waste hierarchy
- Recognise and solidify the crucial role of food banks through their mandated involvement in donation agreements
What Comes Next
Member States now have 20 months from the Directive’s publication in the Official Journal to transpose its provisions into national law.
FEBA calls on all Member States to adopt an ambitious approach when implementing the revised WFD, with particular attention to measures on food donation. Robust EU-level monitoring of compliance will also be critical to ensure that the Directive achieves its intended impact.
