The ECR Food Waste Innovation Challenge returns for 2022, commencing its search for the most innovative solutions to reduce food waste in retail.
An initiative of the ECR Retail Loss Group – a network of 200+ retailers from around the world seeking out new ways to reduce waste – as well as Co:cubed, the application process is now open for this year's Challenge.
More details can be found here. The application process runs until 29 July, and it is free to enter.
Developing A Shortlist
Over the summer, the 70 or so most promising global innovations to prevent, re-use or reduce food waste will be shortlisted down to a 'Top 30' by a panel of 24 grocery retail businesses from across the globe.
Ten of these will go on to pitch their food waste innovations to more than 50 of the world's leading retailers at an event on 30 November.
Previous winners are already making a difference in retailers around the world – for example, Whywaste and Wasteless, which both featured in the 2019 ECR Food Waste Innovation Challenge, have gone on to scale their solutions significantly.
“It’s a fantastic exposure event, providing direct access to the correct decision-makers,” commented Ben Holden, international sales and marketing manager, Whywaste.
Bringing Together Retailers And Innovators
Commenting on this year's Challenge, Colin Peacock, group strategic coordinator at the ECR Retail Loss Group, said, “Retailers are constantly seeking to find new ways to prevent food waste. This brings together retailers and innovators from around the world.
“Today we throw away one-third of all the food we produce. The world simply can’t afford to continue this way. So, the retail industry is uniting to find breakthrough solutions. The ECR Food Waste Innovation Challenge will showcase the outstanding ideas that will help them deliver”.
Read More: ECR Community Releases Global Review Of Circular Economy Case Studies
© 2022 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Stephen Wynne-Jones. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: European Supermarket Magazine.
