This brochure describes the interim results of the REFRESH (Resource Efficient Food and dRink for the Entire Supply cHain) project through May 2018. REFRESH’s research into the behaviours, economics, and relationships that lead to food waste will inform future recommendations for efficient and versatile solutions to food waste at all levels of production.

Since its beginning, REFRESH has established 4 voluntary Frameworks for Action in pilot countries, put on a multi-stakeholder conference and a number of policy workshops, published 32 project result publications, and organised a Food Waste Solution Contest.

The brochure describes progress towards the project goals to:

  • Develop strategic agreements to reduce food waste with governments, business and local stakeholders in five pilot countries: Spain, Germany, Hungary, the Netherlands and China. Within pilots, the participating stakeholders will test new approaches to reduce food waste.
  • Build a pan-EU evidence base exploring and explaining the factors influencing current ‘sub-optimal’ consumer and business behaviour and practice, in order to support effective and targeted interventions.
  • Formulate EU policy recommendations and support national implementation of food waste policy frameworks.
  • Provide better estimations of the environmental impacts of food waste reduction.
  • Design and develop technological innovations to improve valorisation of food waste, e.g. from food processing.

Citation: 

McFarland, Keighley, Stephanie Wunder, Erica van Herpen, David Rogers, Kate Bygrave, Manuela Gheoldus, Stephanie Burgos, Matteo Vittuari, Karin Östergren, Paul Finglas, Peter Metcalfe, Hannah Pinchen (2018) REFRESH Interim Results.

Language: 

  • English