Food Waste Measurement and Reporting: Best Practices for Businesses
July 23, 2026
This report translates ReFED’s refined data collection and reporting guidance for Pact signatories and clients of ReFED’s Business Services offerings into a “Good, Better, Best” framework that serves three audiences: U.S. Food Waste Pact signatories and Business Services clients, retail and foodservice companies outside of the Pact, and sustainability and ESG teams from food businesses.
This report presents a framework for businesses to get the most out of data collection and reporting:
Framework
Good: Credible participation. Meets the reporting minimum while leaning on benchmark data.
Better: Meaningful benchmarking. Replaces most benchmarks with company-specific data. Year-over-year comparison detects real change.
Best: The full picture. Granular, verified, company-specific data that enables root cause analysis and department-level action. Reveals where, why, and how to prevent waste.
Collaborate Across the Food System
The U.S. Food Waste Pact brings stakeholders from across the supply chain together to prevent and reduce food waste. From producers, to manufacturers, to distributors, to foodservice operators, to grocery retailers, signatories of the Pact report food waste data, discuss best practices, and test and scale food waste solutions.