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Introduction

 

Retail leaders are navigating the complex challenge of balancing cost, supply and sustainability in an environment of inflation and volatility. Our latest report, developed by Avery Dennison working with the Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr), reveals a $540 billion annual opportunity to reduce food waste across the retail supply chain. Based on one of the most extensive studies of its kind involving 3,500 global retail leaders across seven countries, the report demonstrates that tackling food waste can be a powerful driver of profitability, resilience and long-term growth.

Download the full report

Reframing food waste as a growth opportunity

“What if waste wasn’t an inevitable cost of doing business, but a driver of growth? With item-level digital identification and end-to-end visibility, retailers can keep shelves stocked, retain loyalty and dramatically cut perishables waste — turning a historic operating cost into measurable value.”

Deon Stander
President & CEO,
Avery Dennison

Leading with courage in the age of waste

“Waste reduction must move from the CSR page to the P&L. Cutting waste improves margins, strengthens supply security and builds resilience in a world defined by shocks. The future will belong to those who stop seeing waste as an inevitable cost and start treating it as the greatest untapped asset of our age.”

Paul Polman
Business leader,
climate and equalities campaigner

The mounting financial burden of food waste

$540 billion opportunity to unlock, by tackling food waste across the global food retail supply chain in 2026.

$540B

Meat waste accounts for almost a fifth of the total ($94 billion).

$94B

74% of businesses say inflation complicates meat demand prediction; 67% expect meat waste costs to hit a record high.

74%

54% of businesses say costs associated with food waste have risen over the last three years.

54%

Over a quarter (27%) of leaders said that they would not meet the 2030 deadline for the UN SDG 12.3 on food waste.

27%

Food waste across the supply chain (processing → retail) is equivalent on average to 33% of revenue.

33%

Retail’s pivotal role

 

Retail connects global supply with the shopper — and sets expectations for quality, freshness and price. The biggest, most immediate and most scalable opportunity to reduce waste lies in the grocery and food retail supply chain, especially in high-value categories like meat and fresh produce. Waste is not inevitable. With better visibility and smarter interventions, retailers can reclaim value across the store.

Download the full report

Download the full report

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How Avery Dennison helps

Digital identification

Case and Item-level sensors deliver accurate inventory, traceability and freshness insights.

Analytics and insights

Turn data into decisions that improve product visibility at receiving, storage and shelf.

Materials science

Innovations that extend product life and protect quality through the cold chain.

Advisory and implementation

From pilot to scale — business case, program design, measurement and optimization.